Financing Foundation year?

Day_nerd-Night_Guitarist

Hello,

I have been looking into doing a foundation year as a mature student, before embarking on a full time university course. However, the only thing stopping me is the fact that it would cost me £5600 that I do not have. The LEA doesnt pay for it.

Does anyone with more knowledge than me know if there is any kind of help for a foundation year? I'd rather not get the money from the bank in the form of a loan, I'd like to save that option for when things get tough as a full time university student.

Thank you.

Lokolo

What foundation course are you planning on doing?

I assume you can't get student finance loans because of the course?

Day_nerd-Night_Guitarist

Indeed. I want to do a contemporary music degree, but I am a little short on theory and aural. The university itself is offering a foundation year, and after discussing options for payment I was left rather disheartened. They suggested I get a bank loan of sorts

Indie_Kid

I assume you've looked into scholarships and bursaries?

Day_nerd-Night_Guitarist

sh1305, I may be hugely mistaken but I was under the impression that both scholarships and bursaries were for degrees only? If not, does this board have a thread about them and how to find them?

The last time I was at university was 10 years ago. I got my degree the old fashioned way. Now with all of these changes, I am completely confused, and looking at websites for students, only makes matters worse.

Any pointers are greatly appreciated.

MrsManda

Have a look HERE for search engines for grants/scholarships.
Before you start your foundation year however, do you know whether you will be able to fund the rest of your degree? As you already have a degree you may find you fall under the ELQ rules and cannot get student finance for your music degree.

Day_nerd-Night_Guitarist

MrsManda, thank you for the link. I will look into it.
Question, my degree was paid for partially by my father and partially by me working. The government did not pay for it, does this mean I still dont qualify for funding?
I will look into what ELQ is about too. Now I think I am panicking.

MrsManda

Day_nerd-Night_Guitarist wrote: »

MrsManda, thank you for the link. I will look into it.
Question, my degree was paid for partially by my father and partially by me working. The government did not pay for it, does this mean I still dont qualify for funding?
I will look into what ELQ is about too. Now I think I am panicking.

Taiko or Student_advisor will probably be on later and they'll be able to give you the facts so not worth panicking until you've heard from them as I'm not an expert, I'm just a student Although you and your dad paid the fees and maintanence for your first degree rather than getting a student finance loan, the Government still paid for your degree - tuition fees are only a small amount towards the real cost of a degree hence all the media coverage recently about people losing out of degree places because the government are cutting funding.
But like I said, there are people who come on here who work in this field so will be able to give you proper advice.

bestpud

As said, Taiko or student_advisor will know better (they are both fab :j) but my understanding is you will have to self fund the whole course.

I do know it makes no difference whether you received student support for your previous degree under ELQ rules.

The only chance you have is if your course comes under one of the excluded subjects but it is basically professional courses that applies to.

Also, just to add to your woes, ELQ rules may mean you need to pay the non-subsidised course fees for the duration of your course too.

ThinkingOfLinking

Are you sure you can't get student loans/grants? I'm doing a foundation course (not a nursing/NHS one) and am getting full financial support through the SLC...

Oldernotwiser

I agree with Bestpud and Mrs Manda, if you already have a degree (however funded) you will be ineligible for most student finance under the ELQ rules.