leaving/changing university + incapacity help

greendress

Hi, I came off incapacity benefit on 20 september to have a go at a university course. unfortunately I have not been able to cope with uni this year and will be leaving - although I might apply to another closer place for next year for a hopefully more manageable experience.

does anyone know if i need to have left my current uni before I can reapply anywhere else?

I have paid 1/3 of the years tuituin and 1/3 maintenance so far. what are the terms with paying that back - earning 15k or more same as if I'd graduated?

If i tried to manage 1 more term but ended up dropping out after a couple of weeks, would I need to pay back the third of maintenance I'd recieve for that term immediately, or would it be added to what I pay back when earning 15k?

I don't know if I'll get back on incapacity now as I managed half a term here, so am quite worried about my situation.

MrsManda

You don't need to leave your current university in order to apply to another BUT you may find it difficult to get into another university whilst you are still unwell.

Have you spoken to your course tutor, or anyone from student support/disability services about the problems you are having? Depending on what your issues are it may be better for you to get advice on how they can help you get through the year or defer the year and start again on the same course in September.

If you need to change universities due to your health, for instance to move to one where you can continue to live with your parents it's likely to improve your chances of getting a place if you speak to your current course tutor as they'd then be able to provide a reference. Otherwise it may be difficult for an admissions tutor at a different university to take the risk of giving you a place above someone else.

I don't know much about the loans/grant side of things so you will have to wait until someone with more experience comes along. But you may need to repay the maintanence grant if you dropout as it's essentially free money you wouldn't be entitled to.

dmg24

Is there anything your uni can do to help you continue your studies? Mine have allowed me to work from home this term, it might be something to look into (probably easier as a postgrad, as learning is more independent/ research based).

UnicornGirl86

See if you can get any kind of help from your students union rep, they may be able to assist with advice on funding and your ill health situation. I'd probably suggest, if you can, studying from home next time? The Open University was great for my brother, as he had glandular fever for a long time but didn't have to travel anywhere to study. Hope that helps!

greendress

I want to change unis to one closer to home (so I could live at home) and also to a completely different course - actually to a foundation degree rather than a full degree which seems like it would be easier for me to manage. I wasn't going to use anyone at my current university as my referree - so if I can apply to the new uni while still at my current one, will the new uni need to know the reasons why I left? I disclosed my disabilities to this uni and it didn't affect my getting in...

Finance wise, I'm just not sure whether or not to try and continue with next term. I didn't know if I had to leave before I could apply to another uni, but if not then I could try and stay - but if I get my next section of maintanance loan paid to me and then am only at university for say 6 weeks of the period it covers, I'm worried I'd have to pay back the deficit right away rather than it staying a loan. To be honest I'm worried they'll ask for all the money I spent on accomodation etc this term back if I leave.

I'll call ucas tomorrow and see what they say.

Oldernotwiser

I would think that a Foundation Degree would be more difficult to do whilst on IB as they're work related and you'll have more difficulty explaining that you're too ill to work but still capable of doing the work placements required.

greendress

...I'm not on IB? That's the point, I came off it because I was going to try going to uni so I'm not on it. If i do a foundation degree I wouldn't expect to be on it. My question is more about the loans etc I've had for this year and what happens if I get a loan for a term I don't complete, and whether I can apply to a different uni while still on this course.

Oldernotwiser

greendress wrote: »

...I'm not on IB? That's the point, I came off it because I was going to try going to uni so I'm not on it. If i do a foundation degree I wouldn't expect to be on it. My question is more about the loans etc I've had for this year and what happens if I get a loan for a term I don't complete, and whether I can apply to a different uni while still on this course.

Sorry, I missed that point.

However, I do wonder whether a Foundation Degree will be easier for you, given your earlier problems.

Have you thought of studying part time, perhaps with the OU?