Am i a student between courses?

pluto2010

Hi,

I’ve just completed a hnd at Portsmouth University and because i passed with a good mark i am able to go onto the second year off the degree which im going to do.

I have been told that between finishing my HND course and starting then Degree i will not be enrolled at Portsmouth University, and then i will be enrolled again in sep/oct.

Does anyone know if this means im unemployed and who i can goto to confirm this?

The reason im asking is first to tell my car insurance company, and secondly to see if i can get any benefits as i will be trying to teach myself what we will be studying on the degree to ensure i get a good grade.

Thanks

Dreaming_debtfree_dreams

I think you'll still count as a student as you are continuing in education, you're just between courses. However, you're unlikely to be able to claim benefits.

lrr_2

You would be able to claim as unemployed, im doing the same at the moment as you do not become officially a student again till September. Why are you telling your car insurance, I haven't?

pluto2010

lrr wrote: »

You would be able to claim as unemployed, im doing the same at the moment as you do not become officially a student again till September. Why are you telling your car insurance, I haven't?

thanks, i was going to tell the insurance to make sure they havnt got an excuse not to pay if i have a crash, because they could void the insurnace as they havnt got the correct details.

My next question is, where do you go to sign on as ive never done it before, is there a website showing your local centre?

Can they check if your a student or not?

Fire_Fox

Are you still exempt from council tax? I think there may be an issue if you are telling council tax you are a student and JSA you are not. Also is there an automatic progression from your HNC to the degree? If so you may be seen as a continuing student.

You may find that the JSA people get a bit funny about the fact that you have a place at college next year - I signed on for a couple of weeks before I started my course, and they told me I wasn't entitled unless I was willing to apply for permanent jobs and give up my course if I was offered one.

student_advisor

pluto2010 wrote: »

Hi,

I’ve just completed a hnd at Portsmouth University and because i passed with a good mark i am able to go onto the second year off the degree which im going to do.

I have been told that between finishing my HND course and starting then Degree i will not be enrolled at Portsmouth University, and then i will be enrolled again in sep/oct.

Does anyone know if this means im unemployed and who i can goto to confirm this?

The reason im asking is first to tell my car insurance company, and secondly to see if i can get any benefits as i will be trying to teach myself what we will be studying on the degree to ensure i get a good grade.

Thanks

If you have finished one distinct course and will be starting a new distinct course in September, you would not be a student during the summer vacation. This means you would be able to apply for JSA, wouldn't qualify for council tax exemption, but may get housing benefit & council tax benefit instead (if you don't live with your folks). You might have to get proof from your uni/college to show you've finished.

The only problem with this is that it'll take ages for it all to be processed!

However, you could arguably be continuing as a student as your second course could be technically "end-on", which would then have implications on benefit entitlement. Could be worth checking with your institution for advice about your status.