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

chika

Thanks Rob Hammond for this great thread.

I have just got off the phone from the SLC who have told me that they can't pay my tuition fees as I have already done a first year at another university.

I had to leave my last university due to personal reasons and family problems. I managed to sort most of it out and enrolled at my new uni a couple of weeks ago. In august phoned the SLC and they told me that they would pay all the fees, I would get a loan and a grant which would have given me more than enough to live off.

I had the shock of my life when they told me that I wouldn't get any fees paid. Now I have to find £3000 to pay for my course. I've had a little cry but found this thread and with it some hope!

I will get approx £4000 of loan and but I have to pay £3044 in rent, £3000 fees and then I need to pay for my car and other living costs.

Do you think I will be eligible for help from the ALF?

Thanks
Chika

si1503

preciousb wrote:

Hi guys, ive been a long time viewer of the forum. First time poster. Am currently a student and i recieved the ALF last year. I recieved £800 for my first year. Am now a second year and find myself still struggling genuinely for university. It is so bad i resorted to betting on betfair with a lot of betfair funds leaving my account and showing on my statement.

So my question is, 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. Thank you in advance for replies

That really is the wrong route to be going down mate!

si1503

Robhammond,

Some interesting info. I have a son and would like to apply for this, however, over the past month my account has had some large credits from cash (savings) and debits into ISAs (3k to cash, 3k to stocks and shares). I can't help but think that if they see I have savings and with obviously receiving my the full grant and a parents learning allowance they might be unwilling to give me much support.

However I recall someone in the thread mentioning that by the end of the academic year they are more inclined to give money out due to having a large amount of money still not awarded, which if not awarded by the end of the term will be sent back. Obviously by this time the credits/debits to and from savings won't be on my statements, and I'll be able to withdraw cash and deposit elsewhere so that i am right up close to my overdraft limit. Does this perhaps seem like my best plan of action for securing a decent amount of support?

peelprincess

chika wrote:

I have just got off the phone from the SLC who have told me that they can't pay my tuition fees as I have already done a first year at another university.

I had to leave my last university due to personal reasons and family problems. I managed to sort most of it out and enrolled at my new uni a couple of weeks ago. In august phoned the SLC and they told me that they would pay all the fees, I would get a loan and a grant which would have given me more than enough to live off.

Thanks
Chika

Chika

I too transferred after doing a first year at another university and started my first year again and still got my fees paid for regardless. You maybe need to look into this and definately have another word with your LEA. Have you had a gap between finishing your first year elsewhere or have they ran concurrently?

Thanks Rob for the earlier advice - I will see an adviser at Uni first.

Tran

does an ALF payment affect Income Support?

(i know some payments don't and some do....)

Tran

si1503 wrote:

However I recall someone in the thread mentioning that by the end of the academic year they are more inclined to give money out due to having a large amount of money still not awarded, which if not awarded by the end of the term will be sent back. Obviously by this time the credits/debits to and from savings won't be on my statements, and I'll be able to withdraw cash and deposit elsewhere so that i am right up close to my overdraft limit. Does this perhaps seem like my best plan of action for securing a decent amount of support?

Depositing the money elsewhere? Sounds like you are deliberately "hiding" money to gain an award. Not exactly fair is it? ( to put it politely)

si1503

Tran wrote:

Depositing the money elsewhere? Sounds like you are deliberately "hiding" money to gain an award. Not exactly fair is it? ( to put it politely)

So you believe the financial support avaliable to students is fair do you? My current total student debt is £12,924.35, and I still have at least another year left after this one. Many students I know are giving their loans to parents to hold for them, or are getting far more support from home and/or elsewhere so that they will come out with very little debt. Then you get students like me that will be lucky to come out of uni with anything less than a 20k debt over our heads! Tell me is that fair? Is it fair that i have to support a child and univesity and won't be entiteled to support all because I wish to try and hold a bit of money away in savings for my child in case of emergency situations? "Hiding money?" We aren't talking burried treasure are we! FYI my student account right now is £1,558.53 with a £1.6k limit. So back to more credit card shopping this week. Student loans and overdrafts need re-paying mate. Get that into your head before trying to critisise anyone else for trying to rationalise their finances in an attempt to provide some sort of security for their children.

yeslek

yeslek wrote:

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.

i feel so ignored

si1503

yeslek wrote:

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.

Certainly worth a try! I think that is the general message from the original poster. Even if you don't think you are entitled to support its worth applying anyway just incase, as by the end of the year many universities have struggled to dish out the fund, and what they don't give out only gets sent back to the gov. Hence they are quite keen to give out support to those who apply.

PoppySeeds_2

Hi All

If I am unable to receive any student loans/maintenance grants etc... because I have already had a student loan in the past can any one advise me on what I might be entitled to. I am a mature student who lives alone and I am responsible for all my bills. I am going to struggle immensly to try and pay for the £3000 tuition fees would I be entitled to any further help. I am doing a 2 year fast track degree which I am hoping to go onto a PGCE after completing the two years.

Any advice welcome

Thanks

Poppy xx