Student needs help!

garethsimpson1987

Went to uni at 20, worked three years full time prior to going.
I was entitled to an income assessed loan of 3400 and tuition fee of £2000.

Lived in uni halls and rented accomodation now for 18 months but all of this was whilst i still came home in the holidays and stayed with my parents.

Now i live with my girlfriend at the weekends and my parents have not and do not support me in anyway (my dad is in a structured debt repayment thing and my mum earns pittance).
My poor girlfriend tries to support me however after bills and rent has 40pcm spare and cannot support me in any other way apart from a free ride at her house (which i hate).

Is there anything i can do? in terms of student loans or advice?

Im struggling to pay rent whilst at uni and i cant get out of my tenancy (ive offered people my room but no one wants my room).

Any advice/support welcome.

Gareth

Oldernotwiser

If you were out of education for three years and supported yourself by working or benefits then you would have been assessed as an independent student, which I don't think is the case here. You cannot achieve this status whilst being at university so you're still assessed on your parents' income and there's nothing you can do to change this.

The one thing missing from your post is any indication of whether or not you have a part time job. If you don't, then your way ahead is clear and you should get one.If you do, and you still can't manage you need to either up your hours or cut down on your expenditure; the Old Style Board will help you to do this.

xelaine88x

Have you tried asking the financial services officer (or equivalent) at uni?
I applied for a hardship fund last month to help with rent and got over £1000 so it would be worth asking!

Also, a part time job is definitely a must, student loans will never cover all of your living costs

Blacksheep1979

have you thought about getting a job?

garethsimpson1987

Hi everyone and thanks for replying. I have applied for jobs at home and at university, waiting back on two applications. Before that i have always worked since i was 16. Im not sure if my university does hardship loans as i only pay £2000 tuition fees - Im sure thats the reason why anyway. But i will look into it. Thanks!

Fire_Fox

I would print off a massive stack of CVs and visit every shop/ pub or bar/ agency you can find. Jobs are less freely available that they once were, and many are not advertised.

cant_think_of_a_name_3

If you worked since you were 16 I can't see how you would have the necessary A-levels, etc to get on a uni course. But if you did then simply provide your LEA with evidence of income for 3 years prior to commencing the degree.

You also state your parents earn a pittance. If that's the case and you're classed as dependent then you just need them to complete the relevant finance forms and you can get a maintenance grant. Again, call your LEA and ask for the necessary forms to be sent out to change your application to inccome-assessed.

ps Hardship loans or 'access to learning fund' (ALF) are not in anay way dependant on what fees you're paying. You're thinking of the university bursary there. The ALF is money given to universities by government. What they don't dish out to needy students goes back to gov't so they're usually quite keen to give it away to those in need as it costs the uni sweet FA.

Lokolo

Blacksheep1979 wrote: »

have you thought about getting a job?

^^ Seconded