degree course at college and financial help

angelbreeze

my son is in his second year at college,and is 18 in a couple of weeks.he is thinking of doing another year at college,on a degree course,in september and i have just found out i will not get child benefit,or tax credits for him.what if anything will he be able to apply for, grants, bursaries etc,or is there a website that can give me some info ? he has got a part time job,but only 8hrs a week at the moment.

payless

IF its a higher education ( as degrees are - albeit usually last more than 1 yr) course then student loan or grant may be available
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Diol1/DoItOnline/Doitonlinestudentfinance/DG_10035908

Lokolo

Ok so he is basically thinking of going to university to do a degree in September?

Is it a BSc a Foundation or what?

If its a BSc/BA or whatever then he is entitled to the basic maintenance loan and tutition loan. If income is below £65,000 (I think thats this years limit) then he is entitled to a maintenance grant or somesort.

Need more info about what he is thinking of doing, where, and where he is planning on living? Has he applied yet also? Because UCAS deadlines are over....

angelbreeze

he's doing it at college,and he has applied with ucas and got the place,i'm sure it is a degree course,but he said it is a year long. i will get more info when he gets home and update thanks everyone

Kazza62

My son is 18 and also at college. He didn't qualify for EMA before he was 18 as both myself and OH earned above the threshold. However, now he is 18, he is entitled to ALG (Adult Learning Grant), which gives him £30 per week. However, this is only in term time and to qualify, he has to attend all lessons and not be late! You can apply for the application pack on line. ALG does not apply to students who are studying at degree level.

Lokolo

Sounds like a foundation year. Not sure how exactly they work as it depends what the course actually is. My OH did art foundation and isn't entitled to anything.

ALG is only got Level 2 or Level 3 qualifications:

direct.gov.uk wrote:

To be eligible for ALG, the course you take must lead to your first full Level 2 or first full Level 3 qualification.

So you really do need to find out what the course is, what its called, where its at.

angelbreeze

he's getting ema at the moment,and i think he can get that until he is 19.

Oldernotwiser

It can't be a degree course if it's only a year long. Is it a foundation year of some kind? What subject is he studying?

Oldernotwiser

angelbreeze wrote: »

he's getting ema at the moment,and i think he can get that until he is 19.

Not on a degree course, the funding is quite separate.
Do let us know when you've spoken to him and we can help you to sort it out.

angelbreeze

i have asked him,it is a 2 year course,a foundation degree,at college and after that he can do 6 mths at uni. so won't he be able to get ema then ?

Oldernotwiser

angelbreeze wrote: »

i have asked him,it is a 2 year course,a foundation degree,at college and after that he can do 6 mths at uni. so won't he be able to get ema then ?

He won't be eligible for EMA but he'll be able to take out a Fee Loan to pay for his fees and a Maintenance Loan to live on. If the family income is low then he'd also be eligible for a non repayable Maintenace Grant as well. Have a look at www.direct.gov.uk for further information.

His funding at this level will be far more generous than just the EMA, although most of it will be in the form of Student Loans.