Adults returning to Education - Is there any financial support?

mangler

I am in desperate need of a career change and really want to go to University. So that I can kick start a fulfilling life. To do that I need to go to college for a year first and I know which course I want to do. It is a full time course that lasts only one year.

I know that I can get my fee's paid for the course which would be brilliant. But how do I afford to pay my 400.00 p/m compulsary outgoings? I realise that the obvious answer is to get a part time job, but that wouldn't be possible until I knew my college timetable would it? I also really, really want to study hard and not be easily distracted. Thus working long night shifts or something similar would not be ideal. Yet again, for me to make enough money to pay my outgoings AND to pay my everyday living costs is going to mean working a LOT of hours. Basically I wanted to know if anyone has any advise as to wheather or not there is any other type of help I would be Eligable for as an Adult returning to education

TigersEye

I tried this once and it didn't work for me, so feel like I've gone backwards now. Have not given up myself and will try it one day

hellokitty08

Depends what you want to study, you can get a career grant or bursery for some courses, e.g Nursing, Teaching.

mangler

It is design, so I don't think there will be any type of grants going around. Which is sad. I just really dont know what to do??

mberry77

i doubt there will be any help. they dont just fund careers changes or i want to go to uni.

if so mr brown can you fund my 3 year IT course please? oh and i want to do a masters. i dont want to pay for it though.

your best bet if you have no money is to just save.

mangler

Thanks for your informative response there MBerry. However If you re-read my initial post you will maybe notice that I have already stated that the course I am considering is FREE!!!!! So that is not my concern. My concern is how I would go about paying my outgoings whilst I am studying. Ofcourse I would in no way expect Mr Brown or any other tax paying citizen to fund my outgoings. I was simply trying to find out if there was any type of student loan that I may be able to access to help me over my year at college. Because as far as I am aware these are only available to Higher Education Students. P.S Loan meaning something that will eventually be paid back.

ps. I wouldn't ask mr. Brown to pay your IT course if I were you, that is just silly. He will say no, for sure!

alyth

Well Mangler, I manage it - I'm 39, on an access course with a view to studying English at uni - I'm at college 20 hours a week, I work 2-25 hours a week and I'm also continuing with a 30 point OU course to enhance my uni application!

I was extremely lucky in that I've got a job in my local shop, paying £6 an hour, which covers my rent, etc. I also get a bursary of £100 a week, thanks to the Scottish Government!

I had an interview at Morrisons before I got my current job - they said that if I handed in my uni timetable they would give me shifts around my course - might be worth contacting them. Otherwise I guess McDonalds, working in a garage, that sort of thing. Or how about taking on cleaning jobs, taking in ironing, dog-walking that you could work round your course.

I'm well ahead of both my college and OU studies. If you're determined to do it you will, I'm never distracted because I'm following my dreams. Don't forget if you're at college you get breaks at Easter, Christmas, etc in order for you to work extra hours if you can. I'm on a week's break now from college, which enables me to spend maybe 40 hours this week studying, and I've taken on extra work in the shop.

If you're planning on taking an access course then presumably that won't start until next September, so you have 11 months in which to save up enough money to cover your outgoings for starting college. I am lucky enough in that I have savings to fund the next 6 years of my studies, determination is everything, don't look for obstacles!

duchy

If it's a first degree then you'd qualify for student loans
Some shorter courses offer some funding-have you asked at the University you are planning to attend ?
As for part-time jobs -supermarkets, resturants etc all have evening hours that wouldn't impact on lecture or tutorial hours and once you have your timetable chances are you could ask for extra daytime hours that fit it.

Another option would be working from home-Arise for example you can pick your hours within certain criteria and teletech hours are pretty much all out of college time too although fixed shifts -both are discussed at length on the Up your income board.

flutterbyuk25

I agree with alyth, if the course is next September then you have plenty of time to save up to cover your outgoings for when you want to study.

I took an unpaid career break of 4 months last year to do Camp America and travel. I had 7 months to save up the circa £300/mth I needed to cover my essential outgoings that would need to be paid whilst I was away, to pay fees for Camp and have money to travel, and to have some money for when I returned until I was paid again.

I saved this up by cutting down on general spending. No buying books/dvds/clothes, socialising less or doing it cheaper. Selling unwanted stuff on ebay/amazon/play etc. I put all spare change in a penny pot etc.

Because I knew I wanted to do Camp America so much, and that it would be so beneficial to my career (I too was looking to change careers, from civil service to youth work) it made me so much more determined so save every penny.

So it can be done, especially in the time frame you have.

You could look at getting a weekend job say in a supermarket. This would mean you can study weekdays and work weekends. Plus it gives you chance of picking up extra hours during holidays. Thousands of people have jobs and study, it's all about time management.

You could possible look into whether a company would fund your course for you if you were working for them, rather than do course then find work. So you would start off low on career ladder but work your way up. However in today's climate it may not be possible.

HTH and good luck

x

mberry77

mangler wrote: »

Thanks for your informative response there MBerry. However If you re-read my initial post you will maybe notice that I have already stated that the course I am considering is FREE!!!!! So that is not my concern. My concern is how I would go about paying my outgoings whilst I am studying. Ofcourse I would in no way expect Mr Brown or any other tax paying citizen to fund my outgoings. I was simply trying to find out if there was any type of student loan that I may be able to access to help me over my year at college. Because as far as I am aware these are only available to Higher Education Students. P.S Loan meaning something that will eventually be paid back.

ps. I wouldn't ask mr. Brown to pay your IT course if I were you, that is just silly. He will say no, for sure!

well spotted but my point was that theres no freebee. work like the rest of us. if it doesnt fit with your course get another one that does or go next year after saving perhaps.

Oldernotwiser

If this course (I'm assuming it's an Access course) is your first level 3 qualification and you're under 25 then you'll get the ALG of £30 per week. You may also get some discretionary help from the Access to Leaning Fund.

I'm afraid that your main method of support is going to have to be part time work. Your college may be able to give you some indication of your timetable (some places don't vary from year to year) although obviously this can't be guaranteed. You'll obviously be free all weekend and it may be worth focusing on getting part time work sorted out as soon as possible for these times.

Edit:I've just reread your posts and seen that you're looking at Design. Some universities will offer a Foundation Year which will count as Year 1 of your degree, thus making it a 4 year degree course, all of which would be covered by the HE funding umbrella. It would be worth your while looking at the universities that interest you and seeing whether any of them offer this pattern as it would make things so much easier if they do.