Urgent Help

mightyboosh

Ok heres the deal, im 24 and ive been working full time for the last 3 years, I literally applied directly to a University last week for a clearing space and I was accepted, I have until Mid next week to accept this place or I will lose it.

The thing is im not sure if I am eligble for any kind of student loans/finance, I completed a HND at college which I got a loan for and then I went on to University with the view of doing a top up which I also took a loan for, the thing is I dropped out of the University top-up course a few months in as I found the gap between the HND and the top up course to be too great (my college lecturer did warn me about this). So I went into full time work and have been doing this ever since, anyway I do really want to get my degree but I feel the only way I can do this is by doing the full three year programme but im unsure as if I can get any financial assistance.

I dont want to accept the place unless I know I can apply for something because I wont be able to afford the course with what I have saved.

Any help would be appreciated, I have two days to get back in touch with the University to let them know if I accept the place or not.

Many thanks

Oldernotwiser

Is this a top up place you've applied for or a completely new degree?

mightyboosh

Its a new degree

squif33

As far as i've been informed if you have already completed a higher education course (i.e. a HND) you are not eligable for student finance in your first year. I was told this is because each person can only claim for a maximum of four years support (they give an extra year incase people change courses). As HND's are 2 years long it means you cannot submit a claim until your second year and thus will have top financially support yourself for the first year.

***Please note: THIS IS JUST WHAT I HAVE BEEN TOLD, DO NOT ACCEPT IT AS FACT YOU SHOULD SEE THE WEBSITE OR RING THE HELPLINE TO CONFIRM IT!! ***

There information about previous study rules on page 5 of the booklet 'Higher education student finance - how you are assessed and paid 2010/11'. You can download this booklet from the 'Forms and Guides 2010/11' section at the student finance website.

Hope you find out what you need soon, good luck!

Helix

squif33 wrote: »

As far as i've been informed if you have already completed a higher education course (i.e. a HND) you are not eligable for student finance in your first year. I was told this is because each person can only claim for a maximum of four years support (they give an extra year incase people change courses). As HND's are 2 years long it means you cannot submit a claim until your second year and thus will have top financially support yourself for the first year.

***Please note: THIS IS JUST WHAT I HAVE BEEN TOLD, DO NOT ACCEPT IT AS FACT YOU SHOULD SEE THE WEBSITE OR RING THE HELPLINE TO CONFIRM IT!! ***

There information about previous study rules on page 5 of the booklet 'Higher education student finance - how you are assessed and paid 2010/11'. You can download this booklet from the 'Forms and Guides 2010/11' section at the student finance website.

Hope you find out what you need soon, good luck!

There is no 4 year limit, there is a formula that is used to work out your entitlement:

Length of new course + 1 year - Previous length of study.

So you can see if the new course was 4 years then you would be entitled to 3 years funding. In all cases like this though the first year won't be funded as you say, only the final 2/3 years.

mightyboosh

Argh I am getting confused here... im getting told different things.. Thanks for the help though I just need to know for definite what my options are, if I cant get funding for atleast 75% of my course then I wont able to go. Just to summarise my situation once more.

- Completed a 2 Year HND for Which I took student finance out for
- Went to Uni to do a top up degree relating to my HND, dropped out after 2 months as it was more advanced than expected (took a loan out for this also)
-This year im applying for a similar degree but starting in Year 1, this will be 3 year degree.

Some people have told me I will get funding for 2 years, others that I will get only 1 year, if i can get funding for 2 years I can afford to go, if I can only get funding for the final year I wont be able to afford to go.

Thanks for the help

Oldernotwiser

Helix wrote: »

There is no 4 year limit, there is a formula that is used to work out your entitlement:

Length of new course + 1 year - Previous length of study.

So you can see if the new course was 4 years then you would be entitled to 3 years funding. In all cases like this though the first year won't be funded as you say, only the final 2/3 years.

You're right about the formula but the OP has already had 3 years' funding, so would only be eligible for funding for one year of a new course.

Oldernotwiser

mightyboosh wrote: »

Argh I am getting confused here... im getting told different things.. Thanks for the help though I just need to know for definite what my options are, if I cant get funding for atleast 75% of my course then I wont able to go. Just to summarise my situation once more.

- Completed a 2 Year HND for Which I took student finance out for
- Went to Uni to do a top up degree relating to my HND, dropped out after 2 months as it was more advanced than expected (took a loan out for this also)
-This year im applying for a similar degree but starting in Year 1, this will be 3 year degree.

Some people have told me I will get funding for 2 years, others that I will get only 1 year, if i can get funding for 2 years I can afford to go, if I can only get funding for the final year I wont be able to afford to go.

Thanks for the help

My opinion, see above, is that you would only get one year's funding. Can you not top up your HND as you wanted to do originally?

Helix

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

You're right about the formula but the OP has already had 3 years' funding, so would only be eligible for funding for one year of a new course.

Yep true, I missed the bit where he had started the top up year. So it would only be 1 years funding.

mightyboosh

Does this only refer to Tuition Fees or does it mean everything,

If i recieive one years full funding but three years worth of living costs/maintenance costs I may be able to surive by using the living costs to pay the tuition fees and using savings/work to support myself. is this an option?

Thanks