Student finance after previous study

Oldernotwiser

blue_mum wrote: »

Hi, I've looked for some advice but can not find it, so apologies if this has already been asked.
Back in the mid 90's I completed a degree, only got a 3rd. Not very good, became pregnant in final year and spent half year being ill, but i carried on with degree. Maybe not the best decision, but I can't change the past.
Fast forward to now, many years professional work with children and additional qualifications gains to keep uptown date. Family now complete and right time to take my career further.
I'm a year too late , due to gov changes, to apply for a pgce or similar one year teacher training. Very disappointing. So researched alternatives. Spoke several times to student finance regarding a four year course that leads to QTS. Told yes I will get loans grants etc as the outcome is a teacher.
I applied and have been accepted. Brilliant news until today I applied online for finance which came back as a big fat 0 and I have to pay the uni fees. I called Student finance, they said wait upto 6 weeks for written response as it may change.

Does anyone know if this course will be eligible or not for student finance. Or is that it for me now and not take my career any further?
Very confused.

I don't understand what you mean when you say "I'm a year too late , due to gov changes, to apply for a pgce or similar one year teacher training", could you explain further?

As you already have a degree, you won't get funding to do another one (even a BEd) but you could consider self funding a couple of OU units to improve your degree results if this is the problem with the PGCE.

blue_mum

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

I don't understand what you mean when you say "I'm a year too late , due to gov changes, to apply for a pgce or similar one year teacher training", could you explain further?

As you already have a degree, you won't get funding to do another one (even a BEd) but you could consider self funding a couple of OU units to improve your degree results if this is the problem with the PGCE.

Hi, last year I could of applied to do a pgce with a 3rd, this year It's 2:2 and above across the board.

I looked in to the OU but they could not advise either as they said the new gov rules made it difficult and no guarantee that the top up would make it a suitable degree for the ITT admission requirements. No matter which institute I speak to and the TDA no one has been able to sign post me in the right direction. I thought I'd found a solution before Christmas with this new course and now i feel it's all falling apart around me again.

Oldernotwiser

blue_mum wrote: »

Hi, last year I could of applied to do a pgce with a 3rd, this year It's 2:2 and above across the board.

I looked in to the OU but they could not advise either as they said the new gov rules made it difficult and no guarantee that the top up would make it a suitable degree for the ITT admission requirements. No matter which institute I speak to and the TDA no one has been able to sign post me in the right direction. I thought I'd found a solution before Christmas with this new course and now i feel it's all falling apart around me again.

I would suggest that you contact the university/ies where you would be applying for a PGCE and see what they suggest. A lot will depend on your original degree subject and what you want to teach.

blue_mum

Hi, thank you for your response.
I did all the calling around the universities back last June to October. All the Universities are under the impression that the degree has to be a first degree with a 2:2 and above (it will be changing to 2:1 in the near future).
I looked at topping up my degree with the OU but did not seem an option due to there response, but I will call them again.
Undertaking a whole new degree with the OU is also not an option as the ITT courses only take your first degree in to account!
I have been in contact with my MP who has received a letter saying there is no lower limit but all the universities insist it is new government policy.
As you can see I am going around in circles, I am just more upset now that student finance had said the 4 year course was fund-able and now it is not. I was aware that you couldn't get funding for a second degree and stupidly thought they had advised me correctly as the course ended with QTS.
I have re contacted the Uni that have accepted me regarding my MP's response and they are looking into it as this Uni are more than happy to take on students with thirds as long as they have considerable experience with backing.
I will have to contact them again to let them now know about the funding.
Guess I will never get anywhere now as all spaces on the relevant courses will be filled.
I want to specialise in Early years, in which I have already gained higher qualifications since leaving Uni. Old rules would of taken this in to account.

gailey_2

Im looking into social work.

already have a third in business and legal studies similar situation was ill in final year and struggled.

because got 3years loan and tuition paid not entitled to anything

been to open day yesterday I meet the academic requirements for social degree.
can get bursery
also was told could apply to sfe for maintaince part of loan but not fees loan.

combine the 2 would pay the rather high £9000 a year fee.

but im worried about my childcare costs as hubby on paper earns good money but after tax and outgoings we struggle . I have 3kids age 6, 2 and nearly 1.

think its so much harder for mature students as felt pushed into uni as only option at 18 and dident know what I wanted to be when grew up so chose business.

dont regret it made some fab freinds.

just feels like so many barriers for career change.

teachings very competative and theres not always the vacancies in primary as know quite a few.

good luck with it guys.

nimbo

bestpud wrote: »

However, it is exempt from ELQ rules so I will only pay the normal fee rate and I am eligible for the bursary from my uni. Oh, and the Access to Learning Fund is still available for financial difficulties.

Now to try and raise the money! :eek:

it is highly likely that the ALF fund won't be available if you are not entitled to full funding for the course...

it will only be given if you have some other means of paying fees, and there will be an assumption that you SHOULD have some other income even if you don't/can't work part time....

the bursary at my university is ONLY available to those who are entitled to the Maintenance GRANT - even people who receive the exact same amount of money under a different heading are not entitled to it...

nimbo

gailey wrote: »

Im looking into social work.

already have a third in business and legal studies similar situation was ill in final year and struggled.

because got 3years loan and tuition paid not entitled to anything

been to open day yesterday I meet the academic requirements for social degree.
can get bursery
also was told could apply to sfe for maintaince part of loan but not fees loan.

combine the 2 would pay the rather high £9000 a year fee.

but im worried about my childcare costs as hubby on paper earns good money but after tax and outgoings we struggle . I have 3kids age 6, 2 and nearly 1.

think its so much harder for mature students as felt pushed into uni as only option at 18 and dident know what I wanted to be when grew up so chose business.


good luck with it guys.

would you be entitled to help with child care?, and did you get honours on your degree????

i ask because i am in the first year of a social work degree, and at my uni of you had honours they would have considered you for a masters...

it would cut out a year of the course, and there was some funding available from somewhere.... (i don't know too much as i obviously wouldn't have qualified...)

have also had previous funding but didn't do my third year... as such i really struggle financially - and because i have no other income (really high unemployment rate where i live, why have a student who can't work xx days when you can have anyone else who has no other ties, and even someone under 21 who can work for less???) any way as i have no income with witch to pay my fees that aren't my student finances etc i will never be entitled to Adult Learning Fund - it's different for people with kids but not much as there is nothing in the pot to start...

Oldernotwiser

blue_mum wrote: »

Hi, thank you for your response.
I did all the calling around the universities back last June to October. All the Universities are under the impression that the degree has to be a first degree with a 2:2 and above (it will be changing to 2:1 in the near future).
I looked at topping up my degree with the OU but did not seem an option due to there response, but I will call them again.
Undertaking a whole new degree with the OU is also not an option as the ITT courses only take your first degree in to account!
I have been in contact with my MP who has received a letter saying there is no lower limit but all the universities insist it is new government policy.
As you can see I am going around in circles, I am just more upset now that student finance had said the 4 year course was fund-able and now it is not. I was aware that you couldn't get funding for a second degree and stupidly thought they had advised me correctly as the course ended with QTS.
I have re contacted the Uni that have accepted me regarding my MP's response and they are looking into it as this Uni are more than happy to take on students with thirds as long as they have considerable experience with backing.
I will have to contact them again to let them now know about the funding.
Guess I will never get anywhere now as all spaces on the relevant courses will be filled.
I want to specialise in Early years, in which I have already gained higher qualifications since leaving Uni. Old rules would of taken this in to account.

Are you sure they mean the first degree that you've taken because that isn't normally what the expression means?

blue_mum

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Are you sure they mean the first degree that you've taken because that isn't normally what the expression means?

That's how they explained it to me ! What does it mean?

amiehall

nimbo wrote: »

it is highly likely that the ALF fund won't be available if you are not entitled to full funding for the course...

it will only be given if you have some other means of paying fees, and there will be an assumption that you SHOULD have some other income even if you don't/can't work part time....

the bursary at my university is ONLY available to those who are entitled to the Maintenance GRANT - even people who receive the exact same amount of money under a different heading are not entitled to it...

I've received ALF money when I'm only entitled to a maintenance loan because of previous study. ALF won't provide any money towards tuition fees though.