Going to University

smithyjules

I hope someone can offer some insight for us. My husband has recently been made redundant and wants to use this opportunity to do a foundation degree at uni. I am really looking for some advice on the financial side of things and how to go about getting any help we may be entitled to.

We have been married almost 3 years and have a 3 year old daughter and a 2 month old son. I am currently on maternity leave and on a 24 hour a week contract.

thanks in advance!

amber1979

I'd look seriously at the employment prospects he will have after he graduates. A degree is not the golden ticket it once was. Yes, it is great that your partner wants to better himself, however you may well be left with a great deal of debt while he is on the dole like thousands of other graduates at the moment. Good luck anyway.

Gleeful

Especially if it is only a foundation degree and not a full degree. I'd agree with the idea of gaining some new skills after being made redundant so why not explore other avenues?

GEEGEE8

I got made redundant in May, and I'm off to uni in Sept to do Quantity Surveying. My degree has a specific job at the end of it, as opposed to doing an English degree or something.

I'm a single person, but if it helps, I am going to be getting an income of £6,500 for the year, so £550 a month approximately.

Obviously yours maybe different, have a look at the student finance website to get an idea of his entitlement to loans and grants.

newbie007_2

@ GeeGee8: Can I pick up on your point of income as you haven't made it clear. Is this from your work income or from grants/loans?

ps Goodluck to Op and GeeGee in study.

GEEGEE8

That is grants and loans, sorry.

So, £550 a month in just grants and loan income. Then I will have to get a part time job to bring my income up a bit, although I can just about survive off the £550, I may want a life lol.

Lokolo

http://www.studentfinance.direct.gov.uk/portal/page?_pageid=153,4680136&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL

You can do a calculation here.

smithyjules

Thanks for all the replies so far, I'll have a look on the site suggested to see if i can get an idea of finances. I do appreciate what has been said about future prospects with a degree. It is a worry. This Foundation Degree is In Aircraft engineering, repairs etc, which he can top up to a full degree with an extra year if he feels it is needed.

After going back to work last time and us being £10 a week worse off than being on benefits (although glad to be working), he is getting somewhat deflated with jobs that don't go anywhere that aren't even pay well. I am happy to support him in the hope he will find himself some satisfaction in life (other than me and the children lol!), even if it just during the course. Sometimes all you can do is try your best and hope.

Thank you for the comments!

dmg24

His choice of subject is very narrow, and for an industry that is currently redundancy heavy. Even if the industry recovers, he will be competing with those who are seeking work post redundancy, with a great deal of experience behind them. I would investigate job prospects before making such a commitment.

GEEGEE8

What about the RAF?

smithyjules

GEEGEE8 - Apparently my hubby is too old for the RAF at the grand old age of 29!or so he was told by the recruitment people.charming eh!