Finishing education, can I claim benefits?

sugarbabe84

Hi,

I just wondered if anyone can advise on this. I have been studying fulltime on a self funded MSc which is due to finish in two weeks time. However, I will still have to submit some work in September which means the uni will still class me as a student. I am officially job searching now as uni will be finished in two weeks time but I wondered if anyone knows whether I would be allowed to claim JSA since I have work submission in September and would still be called a student? Anyone had experience with this?

Vader123

I cant see how you can fulfill the JSA and be available and seeking work if you are still "offically" a student and have work to complete for September.

Others might be availbale to advise more.

Vader

Jowo_2

When I was on a year long MSc course (albeit many moons ago), the summer project wasn't considered a wee bit of work that had to be handed in by September but a thesis that required full time attention across the entire summer. Only those that flunked the MSc and got awarded a diploma, therefore didn't need to submit this final piece of work could get benefits when the term ended.

Though term time for university taught courses finished by June, the MSc students were classed as full time students across the entire year because of the commitment expected by the research project.

sugarbabe84

Vader123 wrote: »

I cant see how you can fulfill the JSA and be available and seeking work if you are still "offically" a student and have work to complete for September.

Others might be availbale to advise more.

Vader

I will be avaliable and seeking work because i will be doing nothing from monday to friday as I will have no lectures or university to attend. All I have to submit is a dissertation which is a self directed project that is due in september.

bunny999

As you will be still be registered as a student you will be considered a student for benefit purposes.

Jowo_2

Hardship fund and/or a job are you main options, in my opinion, if the legislation hasn't changed in this area. The amount of studying doesn't dictate end of the the course from a benefit perspective if your course is classed as a full time one year course.

sugarbabe84

Jowo wrote: »

When I was on a year long MSc course (albeit many moons ago), the summer project wasn't considered a wee bit of work that had to be handed in by September but a thesis that required full time attention across the entire summer. Only those that flunked the MSc and got awarded a diploma, therefore didn't need to submit this final piece of work could get benefits when the term ended.

Though term time for university taught courses finished by June, the MSc students were classed as full time students across the entire year because of the commitment expected by the research project.

Okay thank, that clears it. I appreciate the dissertation isn't a wee bit of work, I'm not implying it is. Having done a dissertation before, I can't imagine that the whole research project will be a fulltime thing for me. That is the reason I'm job searching now, I think I will be able to work part time and focus on my dissertation as I will have no exams or essays to submit. When I did my first dissertation, I had exams and essays to focus on and found it manageable. Therefore, minus the exams and essays, I think I would have had a lot of time on my hands

sugarbabe84

Jowo wrote: »

Hardship fund and/or a job are you main options, in my opinion, if the legislation hasn't changed in this area. The amount of studying doesn't dictate end of the the course from a benefit perspective if your course is classed as a full time one year course.

Okay thanks!

Jowo_2

Wouldn't hurt for you to double check with your Uni or the job centre, as it'll just take a quick call or a glance at their websites, but I'm pessmistic.

sugarbabe84

Jowo wrote: »

Wouldn't hurt for you to double check with your Uni or the job centre, as it'll just take a quick call or a glance at their websites, but I'm pessmistic.

Okay I will check. My Uni rejected my Access to Learning Fund application so I thought I'd find out about benefits especially as I'd noticed that on university records my mode of attendance is down as 24weeks and course ending on 29th March so I wondered if that would count. The system is so unfair for MSc students.

dmg24

As bunny999 has noted, you will be considered a student for benefit purposes until your course has ended. It is not unfair at all, you are expected to be working towards your dissertation on a full time basis.

The ALF assumes that postgrads have secured enough funding to complete the full year before they enter the course, so they are unwilling to provide funds for living expenses except in unforeseen circumstances, such as serious illness.