Help with going back to college?

xanthereanne

Hi, I am being laid off from my job and I really want to go back to college to do an Access to Art & Design course for a year and hopefully go to university. I already have a BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Clothing & Textiles but didn't get high enough grades to get in at university on that alone, and I need to build up a portfolio. I want to eventually do a fashion or textiles course at uni but they always demand a high amount of UCAS points for entry for these courses.
The only problem is that I can't stop working for a year and go back to college, because I have rent/bills etc to pay. My boyfriend is a third year university student so he doesn't have a job to support the both of us.
I was just wondering if anyone else has gone back to college after working and how did you fund it?
I know you can get some sort of adult learners grant which is about £30 a week but I'm not eligible for this as I've already completed a Level 3 course.
I don't know if I should just wait until my partner has finished university and see if it is possible then, but I don't really want to put my life on hold and get stuck in another dead-end job..
Thanks in advance!

Oldernotwiser

Is there any possibility of your studying at a university that offers a foundation year (year 0) before the 3 year degree or doing a Foundation Degree and then topping it up to a BA? Both these routes would come under the HE funding umbrella which the Access route doesn't.

In addition to being ineligible for the ALG, you may also have to pay fees as you already have a qualification at this level. You could find that university entry requirements are relaxed now that you are a mature student and you might be able to get together a portfolio independently. Access doesn't really seem a suitable route for you if you could use any of the alternatives I've mentioned.

xanthereanne

Hi thanks for your help!
I've looked at foundation degrees but there aren't any which look like the right course for me. And unfortunately I'm not classed as a mature student because I'm only 20 haha. It's a bit of a long story, but I left college in 2008 and enrolled on a degree course in Music Technology, as it's something I have always been interested in and it's something I did some night courses in whilst studying at college. The course was nothing like they advertised it to be and it was based around music for film & tv when it was originally advertised as music production etc etc. So I completed the first year and dropped out.
As I've not been doing anything textiles-based for almost two years, I feel I need to do a year at college to refresh and learn some new skills, along with getting help with a portfolio.
I think the best thing to do is wait until my other half has finished university and hopefully we'll be able to sort something out then.

Oldernotwiser

xanthereanne wrote: »

Hi thanks for your help!
I've looked at foundation degrees but there aren't any which look like the right course for me. And unfortunately I'm not classed as a mature student because I'm only 20 haha. It's a bit of a long story, but I left college in 2008 and enrolled on a degree course in Music Technology, as it's something I have always been interested in and it's something I did some night courses in whilst studying at college. The course was nothing like they advertised it to be and it was based around music for film & tv when it was originally advertised as music production etc etc. So I completed the first year and dropped out.
As I've not been doing anything textiles-based for almost two years, I feel I need to do a year at college to refresh and learn some new skills, along with getting help with a portfolio.
I think the best thing to do is wait until my other half has finished university and hopefully we'll be able to sort something out then.

Where were you hoping to go to university?

GEEGEE8

I know the feeling, I've been made redundant also, and not only do I not have a job to pay my rent, but it has jeopodised my course for next year as I now how to find something that will accomodate me having a day off during the week.

I hope you get somewhere.!

xanthereanne

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Where were you hoping to go to university?

I'm not sure yet. I can go anywhere really because me & my partner aren't tied down anywhere after he has finished university next year.
But I'd like to get on a good course at a decent university so thats why I feel I need to go back to college and get my work up to a high standard.