Earn upto £3,500 for 30 minutes work!!! 'Access to Learning Fund'

robhammond

guerillasaver "I have a substantial loan from Ireland, should I declare this? (Im studying in Scotland, living here for 3 years) thanks."

Yes declare this. It is all your income & expenditure regardless of the country it comes from.


preciousb "if it shows on my statement will they regard this and sieng me as a gambler? or should i explain those bets as a desperate attempt to gain some money"

To be honest it isn't going to look good for you on your application, I think you have two choices. Firstly, if you plead and explain that you were very desperate & only recently discovered the fund that may help you.
Your alternative is to be good for a couple of months and then apply once the transactions are not on your most recent statements. Not only would this mitigate the risk to them that you are a gambler but would also prove your sincerity in admiting your mistakes.

It really depends how desperate you are, the longer you can wait the better your chances.


coolcam7 "However at the time I did not mention that I have around £10,000 of savings. I don't want to actually touch this money while I'm at university but how will it affect my chances of getting a grant?"

It is important like everybody else that you declare your income so that they can assess you fairly. However, if you explain that the income was from inheritance and not part of your regular income they will also consider that.


c1985 "Hi, I was wondering if you are able to apply without being in one of the high eligibility classes?"

I would always recommend applying to everyone, but you may be rejected first time as they prioritise the awards early in the year. In addition it would be worth you sitting down and working out a budget for the remaining months, try using the one Martin has on this website.

Good Luck,

Rob

KevinJB88

I currently studying Computing at Uni and wondering what the main things to do to get this? As its entriged me

robhammond

KevinJB88 "I currently studying Computing at Uni and wondering what the main things to do to get this? As its entriged me"

The first thing you should do is read the thread (although granted it is a bit big these days!). That should give an indication of who, why and what the ALF is for.

If you have further questions, feel free to post them on here and I or others will try our best to help you out. Alternatively, if you think that you might be eligible, go an see a student advisor locally who will tell you where to get the forms from and help you fill them in.

Good Luck,

Rob

melancholly

bump (again!)

yeslek

would it be worth me applying as i currently have to work full time as well as doing uni full time to keep on top of my debts and be able to afford to go to uni an back.

could i get anything as i get the loan on top of this monthly wage.

peelprincess

Hi Rob

This thread is excellent :T - so well done for giving us poor students some well needed advice.

I am a parent of a 6 year old & living with my partner (not my childs father), and we are completely financially independent from each other. He works full time & because of his income (30k) I am only entitled to the bare minimum student loans and I get zero grants.

It upsets me a bit - I realise that the system has to use a format whereby if you are living with a partner you are classed as supporting each other - when essentially this is not always the case. In essence - I am not financially better off from living with him, I am worse, due to Student Loans / Tax Credits taking his income into account and giving me next to nothing.

I have the ALF forms and it asks for your partners income - do you think I will get anything? I have £1000 (overdraft) to last me until Jan - with £500 pm outgoings (before food / petrol etc). My partner genuinely cannot support me (even if he wanted to) as his outgoings are diabolical.

If I write on my supporting statement that he does not financially help me in any way - do you think they'll believe me / that will help?

the_devil_made_me_do_it

Anyone know whether you can apply for ALF now so early on in the first term???

My partner is doing about 180 miles round trip, costing approx £20 a day. He travels 3 days per week. Soon his grant is going to run out, so it would be advantagous if he could apply now. Anyone know???

Lady_K

It probably would be a good idea to apply now in those circumstances because it takes a few weeks to process too (I think up to 4) and he could find himself struggling for transport costs by then. They should take the whole years travel costs into consideration anyway just like everything else they ask for on the form. But if he finds himself in more financial difficulty later on he can re-apply anyway, I'm not sure if there is a limit to how many times you can re-apply in a year though.

robhammond

peelprincess "If I write on my supporting statement that he does not financially help me in any way - do you think they'll believe me / that will help?"

I think the key to your application will be proving that you are financially independant of each other. You will have to state your partners income and also his expenditure so the fact he cannot financially assit you should be evident from that. They will assume that if you are living together that you share all utility costs, rent etc. If this is not the case you will have to state why and prove it.

I would like to help you more but your case will need to be persuasive and therefore I would suggest speaking to a local advisor who can review your application before submission as I am not wholly aware of the facts.

Good luck with it though.

the devil made me do it "Anyone know whether you can apply for ALF now so early on in the first term???"

I would second Lady_K's comments she's very up to date on all things ALF these days! Get your application in now and if your circumstances worsen in the year tell them.

robhammond

Just a thought....

For the last few months, I have been helping students from the advisors perspective and as former ALF award committee member. This has its obvious benefits however I feel it would be useful for forum members to hear more from the student perspective.

If you have been through the process, regardless of whether you were awarded or not, how did you find it? What tips would you have for prospective applicants? How long did the process take at your Uni/College?

Knowledge is power!!

Cheers,

Rob