Help With Student Loans - HERE!

MCN_CAM

Hi,

I'm looking for some advice on fundung for a second degree. I have heard that there is no longer any government funding for anyone wishing to do a second degree, and was wondering if this was true.

I completed a psychology degree in 2008, but am now looking to retrain as a baker (strange career path I know). The problem is that degrees are expensive and I don't have thousands of pounds to throw around.

If anyone has any advice on how to find funding it would be much appreciated.

Many thanks,

MCN

Taiko

Why on earth do you need a degree to be a baker?

Either way, it is true that there would be no funding for a second degree, unless it's in a specific subject that is designated, which doesn't sound as if it will apply to you. I'm afraid you'd have to find the dough yourself to pay the fees.

Oldernotwiser

MCN_CAM wrote: »

Hi,

I'm looking for some advice on fundung for a second degree. I have heard that there is no longer any government funding for anyone wishing to do a second degree, and was wondering if this was true.

I completed a psychology degree in 2008, but am now looking to retrain as a baker (strange career path I know). The problem is that degrees are expensive and I don't have thousands of pounds to throw around.

If anyone has any advice on how to find funding it would be much appreciated.

Many thanks,

MCN

If you want to retrain as a baker, I doubt that a degree is your best way forward.

Have you identified a suitable course?

Starry-eyed

Taiko wrote: »

You cannot apply for Parents Learning Allowance, Childcare Grant, or the means tested maintenance loan due to the type of course you are studying.

You'll only be eligible for the reduced rate maintenance loan from Student Finance England, in accordance with Paragraph 38(4)(a) of The Education (Student Support) Regulations 2011.

Hi Taiko

I can actually apply for the childcare grant and PLA through the NHS bursary, I've just found out. :-)

MCN_CAM

Taiko wrote: »

Why on earth do you need a degree to be a baker?

Either way, it is true that there would be no funding for a second degree, unless it's in a specific subject that is designated, which doesn't sound as if it will apply to you. I'm afraid you'd have to find the dough yourself to pay the fees.

Thanks for the confirmation Taiko; it is as I suspected then.

The course I would be doing is more than just baking and does not necessarily constitute a full degree. Thanks for the concern though.

Manxsha

Hi my friends daughter started a part time course at uni sept 2011 and had to take on a four day volunteering placement as there were no paid vacancies available. She lives at home with her single parent and is 18. At present she is working as many nights as possible to earn some money for her keep and travel expenses. Is she entitled to anything other than a corse fee loan? Is her mother entitled to claim child benefit as although she is in part time education through the uni course she is really in full time as the rest of her time is at the primary school she has her voluntary placement? Would really appreciate some advice. Thanks

Jodepetas

cool, my school helped us with applying though,

MrsManda

Manxsha wrote: »

Hi my friends daughter started a part time course at uni sept 2011 and had to take on a four day volunteering placement as there were no paid vacancies available. She lives at home with her single parent and is 18. At present she is working as many nights as possible to earn some money for her keep and travel expenses. Is she entitled to anything other than a corse fee loan? Is her mother entitled to claim child benefit as although she is in part time education through the uni course she is really in full time as the rest of her time is at the primary school she has her voluntary placement? Would really appreciate some advice. Thanks

Is there a reason she's doing a PT course rater than a FT?
How long is her placement?

Her mum won't be entitled to Child Benefit because she's not a child - child benefit is not paid for 'children' in higher education.

As she's studying for a PT course she should've applied for a Fee Grant to go towards her tuition fees plus a Course Grant to go towards her living costs. Has she done this?
If she's struggling for money she should speak to her student support office to see if there are any university based grants she can apply for.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation/StudentFinance/Gettingstarted/DG_171572

It's worth her mum putting their household details into one of the benefits calculators to check to make sure they're receiving everything they're entitled to from the benefits system. Does her mum work?
http://www.turn2us.org.uk/benefits_search.aspx

https://www.dwpe-services.direct.gov.uk/portal/page/portal/ba/lp?_piref278_36249_278_36248_36248.__ora_navig=

Phreaky

I'm posting this in here on behalf of my girlfriend, hopefully you guys have some ideas!

Basically she is a dual UK/Australian citizen, but has lived in the UK since she was 14 (now 23). She started uni this year, but Student Finance rejected her application because she spent 9 months in Australia last year visiting her family. She raised an appeal essentially saying this isn't fair as she still considered the UK to be home, had been here for nearly a decade (etc) which they conceded. They said if you can prove she has been in the UK the 3 years prior to being in Aus for 9 months, that would be enough proof.

Unfortunately she has moved house pretty much every year for the last 5, due to her parents being contractors and as such does not have headed utilities/bills etc from all addresses and all years. Because of this she has also provided copies of all of her certificates of education (most requiring at least 2 years of continuous study, dated and addressed), and also an itemised letter from HMRC showing she made substantial national insurance payments for every year since 2006 as a result of her working part/full time in the years required. However, the particular appeals clerk she is dealing with keeps rejecting her evidence with completely unhelpful boilerplate replies such as "You haven't successfully answered all of my questions, as such your appeal will remain on hold". We both think she has (and the uni does as well), and the clerk won't even tell her what evidence she can use and why the provided evidence doesn't count.

She's massively stressing about it, thankfully I'm more than capable of keeping a roof over her head and the uni have been very forgiving on the whole situation (have provided a £300 hardship grant recently, despite the fact she can't even pay the fees!), I'm just a bit unsure what to do next. She is holding down 2 part time jobs on top of study just to have enough money for food (which the uni have told her not to do as it will be too detrimental to her studies), and the appeal seems to be stuck in a rut with an irritating jobsworth playing with her case.

Any ideas?

Oldernotwiser

Has she involved her university's Welfare Office and the Student Union in this?