Looking for a Student Loan

CannotFindHelp

I've been in the UK now for 2 years. This year I want to start studying an MA in Journalism. I applied for the course and have just received my Unconditional Offer. I should be over the moon, but I have a problem, and it's the cost of the fee's.

I've been Unemployed since December due to my partner and I moving from one end of the country to the other - she was offered a job she couldn't refuse and my current job wasn't going anywhere and was nothing to write home about - so I decided to start looking for work in my new place of residence. So far it's not been fruitful, despite some positive vacancies and interviews, no job offers.

I didn't like sitting at home so I start making plans. I signed up with the University to do a two year part time MA, thinking that whatever I could scrape together, at least the fee's would be more manageable if broken down over 24 months as opposed to the entire full time fee over a year. So, I recently opened a Credit Union account, and whatever little I've left from JSA goes in there. But I know it won't be nearly enough to cover anything.

So, I'd like to consider getting a Student Account, but my bank won't give me one because I'm doing a Part Time course at Post Graduate level and not a Full Time one. They also ask I be resident in the UK for three years, and I've not been....

I would like to get a Loan, that I could use to pay for my course and better my education, and then repay like a lot of people in the UK do, but I don't seem to qualify for the PCDL scheme or a typical Student Account. Also, due to my Unemployment and my non-residence here for at least the last 3 years (and no UK address for the past six years in some cases) it's looking increasingly unlikely that I'll fulfil my ambition and do this course. Trust me, if I had a car, I'd sell it...if it meant I could get onto this course. I don't think there is a more ideal time for me to do this.

I have a few options open to me, and I'd appreciate people's advice on these and any other suggestions they might have

1. Get ANY job and save save save everything I earn between now and the end of September - believe me, I'm trying, but a lot of my past work experience has been in my specific area of Study, so do I feel guilty for reworking my CV and lying to obtain a General Occupancy or Temp job?
2. Throw myself on the mercy of the University when I start the course, offer them what I can when I can, and hope they don't throw me out...and hope we can at least make some arrangement? (A Friend of mine was able to do this during her Education in Ireland a few years ago)
3. Approach the Credit Union after 12 weeks and ask for a Loan. What kind of Loan should I ask for - all the course fee's for the first year or the two years or just to cover me until the first semester - and if I do ask for a Loan how likely am I to be approved and are they likely to ask for repayment straight away given my circumstances? Can I use my CU savings to pay towards the repayments?

Just to give you an idea, course fee's would be about 2k for each year. That is broken down as just over 1k per semester.

4. Give up. Accept I'll not get the course fee's and just try my hardest to get a job. Accept Unemployment until that happens.
5. Find a Bank that will offer me a Student Loan for my course fee's - I'm not there is one
6. Approach another Financial Body - does another exist that I could approach

I'm sorry that's so long, any advice you might have, or just words of encouragement...would be greatly welcomed

dmg24

Option 7. Get any job that you can and save for admission in 2011. Do not lie on your application form, simply tailor the skills that you have to the jobs for which you are applying.

CannotFindHelp

dmg24 wrote: »

Option 7. Get any job that you can and save for admission in 2011. Do not lie on your application form, simply tailor the skills that you have to the jobs for which you are applying.

That is an option, granted, but I was hoping for an option that would allow me to begin the course in September as opposed to deferring the year. There are no magic answers I know but I was hoping people might have experience.

Yes, I could do that, and I will if it comes to it...but while I thank you for your response it's not what I had in mind.

[Deleted User]

Where are you from? Does that country offer postgrad funding for overseas study?

Another option, but unlikely to work for this Sept.
Busaries and grants form universities and charities. Takes a lot of research, applications and time but you might fit the criteria for one.

Fruit_and_Nut_Case

Normally I'd let it pass but since you're planning to study for an MA in journalism I have the urge to point it out. You don't need an apostrophe in fees when used as the plural of fee. I may get flamed for being petty but a potential journalist should know this.

Cheers! :beer:

Judith_W

There are what are called career development loans which allow you to take a loan out and then re-pay when you finish. This is quite risky as if you don't get a job in the meantime you won't be able to meet the payments.

I have no idea if you are eligible whilst not having any job but it is hopefully an option

CannotFindHelp

Fruit_and_Nut_Case wrote: »

Normally I'd let it pass but since you're planning to study for an MA in journalism I have the urge to point it out. You don't need an apostrophe in fees when used as the plural of fee. I may get flamed for being petty but a potential jouirnalist should know this.

Cheers! :beer:

Thank's for pointing that out....oh, and you spent Journalist wrong

Fruit_and_Nut_Case

CannotFindHelp wrote: »

Thank's for pointing that out....oh, and you spent Journalist wrong

McKean's Law strikes again.