Student Finance under pre-2006 vs post-2006 system

rich86

Hi,

I'm due to return to university in a few months and I'm getting really worried about how little money I'm going to have to live off;

I am assessed under the pre-2006 student finance system and therefore will get up to £4,745 of student loan (with approximately 25% of this being income assessed) and am also eligible for up to £1000 of HE grant. I am under 25 and am therefore assessed as a dependant of my parents, however my parents have always said that they can't afford to give me any financial help. I have been filling in the finance forms for this year and have now discovered that my parents income is just under £27k, meaning that I'll be ineligible for the £1000 HE grant and will no doubt loose a large portion of the income assessed student loan, making my total income for the year closer to £4000 this will barely cover my housing and yet my parents are still unable to provide any help.

After looking through the student finance website I noticed that under the new finance system I'd be eligible for far more help than I am now.

Firstly I wanted to ask if there is any way that I can see the exact calculations that are used to assess what money I'd receive under each system - I've tried using the calculator on the student finance website but it isn't much help!

Secondly is there any way to be assessed under this new system? Could I leave my current course and apply for direct entry to the appropriate year of my course as a new applicant and therefore start a new application?

Sorry if I've rambled a bit, I'm just at a bit of a loss with the whole situation.