Financing Foundation year?

Day_nerd-Night_Guitarist

*sigh* thank you all for your replies.
This is making me very sad. I graduated in IT because of a very long story. The short version is that I had no choice seeing as my father wouldn't have it any other way.

I however, have always loved music. I want to get this degree which in the end allows me to qualify as a teacher too, so I can work with music. I find myself being the teenage girl who was angry at her father - all over again! :mad:

I looked a little into this whole ELQ business, and oh my goodness. Does this mean, if I want to get my music degree I have to dish out over £7K a year??

I do hope someone knows something positive about the fees. There is no way I can afford any of it in one go. I have been working in IT for the last 7 years but never made enough money to save!

bestpud

I think the rules are different for teaching degrees so is it school teaching you want to do, or private music teaching?

Is there a Foundation degree that covers what you want to do? They are exempt from ELQ so, while you still won't get any student support, you would at least only pay the normal fee rate for the first two years.

You could then perhaps top up to a full degree but that year would be more expensive.

I don't know if any of this is an option - I'm just throwing ideas in the air.

ONW will have more idea!

bestpud

As for raising the fees, there is career development loans but I think they are only for two years.

Other than that there is educational trusts and the like and there may be some specifically for music students.

Really though, you won't have a hope in hell if you've not managed to save when working full time. I imagine you will carry on working some hours but full time may be a bit optimistic, depending on your circumstances.

Could you postpone it another couple of years and save like crazy?

Day_nerd-Night_Guitarist

Bestpud, this is what the university has to say about the teaching bit, which is only done as an optional module in year 3:

Licentiate (optional 40 credits) This unique option equips the student with skills enabling them to design, deploy and evaluate a variety of teaching, learning and assessment methods. It will also enable the student to achieve a recognised teaching qualification.

As for postponing it, there isn't much difference between now and two years time. The wages I make do not allow me to save.

bestpud

Day_nerd-Night_Guitarist wrote: »

Bestpud, this is what the university has to say about the teaching bit, which is only done as an optional module in year 3:

Licentiate (optional 40 credits) This unique option equips the student with skills enabling them to design, deploy and evaluate a variety of teaching, learning and assessment methods. It will also enable the student to achieve a recognised teaching qualification.

As for postponing it, there isn't much difference between now and two years time. The wages I make do not allow me to save.

Ah, I see. I thought you may want to be a teacher as the rules are different.

Your only other option is to study part time and work alongside it...

Also, check whether the uni you want has actually implemented the higher fees for ELQ students yet - not all have. They should have fees on the website somewhere.

Is the OU an option? I guess not for something like music?

bestpud

Do you have children or other commitments?

If not, could you find a second job and literally work your butt off for a couple of years?

Or could you live cheaper?

It's a sacrifice but if you really want this...

bestpud

Another thought:

Could you get yourself up to speed with the OU and thereby avoid the foundation year as the OU is likely to be a bit cheaper and you could obviously work alongside it.

Oldernotwiser

Day_nerd-Night_Guitarist wrote: »

I do hope someone knows something positive about the fees. There is no way I can afford any of it in one go. I have been working in IT for the last 7 years but never made enough money to save!

Sorry, unless the institution you want to go to hasn't implemented the ELQ policy, there really isn't any way round it.

Are you hoping to be a school teacher specialising in Music or do you want to teach guitar privately?

Day_nerd-Night_Guitarist

Bestpud, I can skip the Foundation, that's not a problem, that is why I was going to apply for the 2011/12 course as opposed to this year's. Just giving myself the year to catch-up.

Studying part time, I hadnt considered this. Never thought I would be finishing my degree in 6 years :mad:
Thankfully I don't have any dependents, so at least I have that going for me.

I cannot believe that for the minority of people that abused the system, the rest of the people that have actually funded their own way through university have to be punished.

Oldernotwiser I was hoping to become a private tutor, or a peripatetic teacher.

I will call the university and hope they have not yet implemented the ELQ.

Day_nerd-Night_Guitarist

My course cant be done part time..... I dont think this can get any worse.