Mature student with debts, can I get a student loan?

lalamb

I've recently decided I want to do something with my life.

I am 35 with 4 children, my DH supports me.

I am planning on doing an access course at college and then going to Uni to do a degree.

My DH is earning £25,000 per year but we cannot afford to fund college or university. So, here is my questions, will I be entitled to any help to fund my access course, such as a loan etc? I have heard of a loan called CLD or something like that??? But having a poor credit history I am worried I won't get this.

I would also like to know how a poor credit history would affect my borrowing at University, I don't have any bad debts at present,in fact I have no debts at all, these were all in the past.

BAsically, my problem is affording to go to the access course which I am desperate to do.

TIA

Oldernotwiser

lalamb wrote: »

I've recently decided I want to do something with my life.

I am 35 with 4 children, my DH supports me.

I am planning on doing an access course at college and then going to Uni to do a degree.

My DH is earning £25,000 per year but we cannot afford to fund college or university. So, here is my questions, will I be entitled to any help to fund my access course, such as a loan etc? I have heard of a loan called CLD or something like that??? But having a poor credit history I am worried I won't get this.

I would also like to know how a poor credit history would affect my borrowing at University, I don't have any bad debts at present,in fact I have no debts at all, these were all in the past.

BAsically, my problem is affording to go to the access course which I am desperate to do.

TIA

If you don't already have a level 3 qualification (A levels or NVQ 3) then you may well not have to pay for your Access course and could be eligible for £30 per week Adult Learning Grant. Contact your local college to check whether their access course comes under this scheme. You wouldn't take out a CDL as you have to repay this quite soon after finishing the course, which is when you'll be at university.

When you get to university level your past credit level is irrelevant to getting student funding, although you may have difficulty in opening a student bank account. On the information you've given you'd be likely to be able to take out the fee loan of £3,145, the maintenance loan of £3,365 and the maintenance grant of £2,835. You can check this information on www.studentfinancedirect.co.uk

In addition, universities give bursaries of at least £300 depending on the course you do and you will be eligible for a council tax discount if there's only your husband over 18 in the household.

If you have difficulty in funding the Access course there are various alternatives you could investigate but most people feel Access is best if you can do it.

lalamb

Thanks very much for your response, I appreciate it.

I haven't got any A-Levels so that is worth looking into.

Regarding council tax, my daughter is over 18 and has just started her degree, so would the council tax discount still apply to us if I was to go to University also?

Oldernotwiser

lalamb wrote: »

Thanks very much for your response, I appreiciate it.

I haven't got any A-Levels so that is worth looking into.

Regarding council tax, my daughter is over 18 and has just started her degree, so would the council tax discount still apply to us if I was to go to University also?

If there's only one person (your husband) who's over the age of 18 and not a student, then the household will be eligible for the 25% single person's discount. Students are "non people" when calculating council tax.

lalamb

Thanks again, OlderANDwiser

You've helped me a lot.

Fire_Fox

David333 wrote: »

Hey there

I don't want to hijack the thread but I was just wondering what you mean by having £120 pending from Amazon vouches at cashback sites... . Thanks!

If you use a cashback site (I like Wepromiseto, but a lot on MSE use Quidco) for all your online purchases you get a kickback, which can be taken in cash or in vouchers. You can also open bank accounts, credit cards, switch utility providers, or get free trials for extra money - in fact most of my 'earnings' are from this source.

If you take your kickback as Amazon vouchers it's an extra 5% on the total over cash and I can easily spend those vouchers! The only 'catch' seems to be that it takes a couple of months for the money to be ready to pay out. So I have £129 which has tracked (listed on the system/ pending payment), and another £20 queried that didn't seem to go through the system correctly. I only joined at the start of December!!

There is an article on the main site regarding cashback sites, have a read around.

Fire_Fox

lalamb wrote: »

Regarding council tax, my daughter is over 18 and has just started her degree, so would the council tax discount still apply to us if I was to go to University also?

It would apply if you attended any course that counts as full-time attendance - not just university. I am doing a Foundation Degree (old HNC) which is one day a week plus study plus work experience and I am exempt. I am not even sure the office who gave me the certificate checked whether my course is full-time ... You also often get the exemption for the full year - mine is dated August to July even tho I started late September and finish early June.