Midwifery applicant and financial options

dagrowler

so, i've got a place at uni to do midwifery. but as i already have a previous degree i've been told by the SLC that midwifery isnt classed as a health degree so i'm not eligible for a loan this time round. i assume i'll still be able to get a means tested bursary but i doubt i can survive on that (i have a mortgage and live alone at present).

does anyone know of any other way's i can get money so i can follow my lifelong dream?

I'm so sad as i was super happy about getting a place on such an oversubscribed course, plus i managed to pay off my previous student loan this week!

dagrowler

oh i'd like to add that i am going to try and work as much as i can. hoping to do professional babysitting plus bank nursing once i get some experience. Becuase i'll be on placements though i won't be able to take on a regular PT job.

freebiequennie

You could ad-hoc nanny in between and do maternity nanny placements in holidays.

I am a qualified childrens nurse in east midlands and night nanny, babysit and ad-hoc nanny when firstv started doing it 7yrs ago I charge £5 an hr now charge from £10 an hr as much more experienced and have more qualifications also.

Taiko

Just posting so I know to keep an eye on this thread. I'm sure there is something in the regulations about this one, so I'm going to have a proper look over it later on.

clairec79

You can get a student loan with a midwifery degree even with a previous one, I'm sure I've known people who have (I trained in Wales so we didn't get a loan we got a non-means tested bursary instead)

We could start banking once we'd done our first placement (so in my case 7 weeks in) and I generally got quite a lot of shifts (I averaged 1 a week but when waiting for my PIN to come through and start as a midwife I was doing 5-6 a week so you can get lots - but be sensible as probably brought down my degree classification

I'd go to the student midwives sanctuary (google it) and ask on there - there's bound to be someone in your situation who worked it out

Taiko

Knew I'd find this. This is in the Notes For Guidance, which I don't believe get to be seen by students.

However, new students taking courses in medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, architecture, social work and undergraduate Initial Teacher Training (ITT) will continue to be eligible for loans for living costs, though not fee loan or Maintenance Grant/ Special Support Grant, even if they already hold an equivalent or higher level qualification. Students eligible for a means-tested NHS bursary will continue to be eligible for a reduced rate loan whether or not they already hold an equivalent or higher level qualification.

Therefore, you are ok to receive the loan provided you're getting the means-tested bursary.

dagrowler

oh guys that's amazing!! thank you so much! the people i spoke to were very silly then. shall i jsut call back and ask again?

maturelearner

I start in sept at uni on health course, after deferring for a year at the last minute. The student loan system has changed quite a lot this year imo, you have to apply online via the direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/ UniversityAndHigherEducation/StudentFinance/index.htm website.

On the plus the nhs bursary application seemed changed only slightly but I completed it much quicker this time around.

Fingers crossed I get to uni this time & you get your finances sorted also.

Buttonmoon_2

Just a quickie...I think you need to apply for your bursary first and provide that as evidence in order to get the loan for midwifery. There is loads of info on the dierectgov website including the bursary forms and online loan application.

tabathaxx

Glad to have found this - ive been looking for somewhere to vent for a few months now

no you dont have to apply for your busary first - i have my confimation of the loan already but not for the bursary as you cant apply for this until you actually have a firm offer that you have accepted. You can apply for the loan at any time.

the people (and i use the term loosely) who answer the phone at the SLC dont know about the health courses being exempt from the previous degree bar on loans so they will probably tell you you are not entitled - dont give up you are!!! the computer system is also not aware of the exemtption so you may well get an award letter which says you are entitled to £0

YOU ARE ENTITLED TO THE LOAN but you have to talk to someone senior for it to be sorted. The person on teh end of the phone may say that they have spoken to them themselves (they wont have) - you need to speak to them yourself - insist and if you have to hold hold - they wont ring you back!!

this is the palorvour i had to go through to eventually be told - oh yes you are entitled to it - sorry the system is not aware of cases like this!!! I now have a letter which confirms this (they didnt want to send one - said i could just look online - no thanks i want something in writing) and i start at uni in september!!

tabathaxx

sorry just noticed a post above - the online application is what gets you the you are entitled to £0 letter!! you might have to go throught this first to get on the computer system as such - but DO NOT GIVE UP THERE!!!!!