In debt but want to go to Uni

maria2554

Hi,

I do not have a job at the moment and I would like to use this as an opportunity to make a career change. For this to happen, I would need to do a 3 year full time degree in Occupational Therapy.

But I am nealy £10,000 in debt.

If it would be possible, I would like to start the degree this Sept.

I have seen a careers advisor and she thought that it would be in my favour that the degree I want to do is vocational and not academic. Therefore at the end of it I would be qualified to go straight into the profession. She suggested I talk to the Student Loans Company to see if they had any suggestions but they didn't.

Does anyone know of anything that might be on offer for people in this situation (who want to postpone paying back a debt until I am qualfifed) or have any suggestions or advice that might help me?

If neccessary, I will do the degree next September but as I am a mature student, I really would prefer to get on with it as opposed to going back into my old profession for only 18 months when it's much harder to get a job due to the current climate and I am likely to get less than my going rate.

Thank you in advance.

Oldernotwiser

I'm glad you decided to post this over here and hope you get the help you're looking for.

If you look down to the current page 9 you'll find a thread titled Mature student with debts, can I get a student loan? which might be worth looking at.

maria2554

Hi

Thanks for suggesting I post here. I have found someone that is in a similar predicament to what I could be in and hopefully they might be able to shed some light for me.

bristol_pilot

You could consider getting a job with the NHS (any job will do) - once you are 'in' they may pay for you to do a nursing, therapy or similar degree.

Voyager2002

If you become a student (living on a student loan) you will then be able to contact your debtors and explain that you have a low income, and get them to freeze your interest and accept token payments. Of course, as soon as you graduate and you start earning a decent amount again you will have to deal with those debts.

So no, your debts should not be a barrier to study. However, they might make it difficult or impossible for you to get a student overdraft from a commercial bank.

maria2554

Thank you for your responses.

I am going to see the CAB tomorrow.

mum2one

Good luck with the course, hope you get everything sorted. xx

Fire_Fox

I agree: a job with the NHS is helpful in that you will already have a CRB check etc. when you want to go on placement. You may also find you will be able to find a paid placement, where most of your fellow students will be 'working' for free.

justruth

As a fellow mature student I can add that it is really hard to try to hold it all together, and today I had a meeting with the financial adviser type at my uni who offered to help me arrange a DMP which may be of assistance to you? The other thing to note is that actually you get a fair amount of help in the way of 0% overdrafts etc which may make things slightly easier for you, plus your is only a 3 year degree so it's not all bad.

It depends on your uni but I cannot get any help from the ALF, or any of te charities because they will not help with pre-existing debts, just priority debts.

I am still glad I came to uni. I am not enjoyng the same experience as my peers but I love what I have. If you are serious about doing it then my sincere advice to you is to clear as much as you can between now and then, so what is left is the debt that costs you the least. Also expect some CC companies o whack up the rate as your circumstances change.

jonpats

I am stuck in a job I hate, and have been off with stress, I'm applying to go to university full time as a mature student in September and should have no problem getting in, although I have a northern rock together mortgage and other unsecured debt. I don't know what to do to organise my debt before i start, should I speak to a CAB?

Oldernotwiser

jonpats wrote: »

I am stuck in a job I hate, and have been off with stress, I'm applying to go to university full time as a mature student in September and should have no problem getting in, although I have a northern rock together mortgage and other unsecured debt. I don't know what to do to organise my debt before i start, should I speak to a CAB?

Have a look at the DFW board on here which has lots of information about non profit making credit advisory services.