Mature p/t student - any funding available?

jollygreen

Dear kind ladies and gentlemen.

I am a 42 yr old lady who has applied to uni for the first time. It is a two yr foundation degree and it states part time. 3 to 3 1/1 days per week.

I have previously done a college course in my youth which was a two year NNEB in childcare, don't think they have these any more.

I am puzzled as my friend's daughters uni course is only three days but classed as full time?

Anyway to get to the point.. the nearest uni to offer course is 90 mins away. I feel I would have to stay over a few night per week.

My husband works but we receive working families tax credit as he is a relatively low paid worker and we have 3 school aged children.

ALL the financial help i can find is for full time courses... can i get ANY help with the course fees and my living away costs from any where???

GotToChange

Funding for part time study is mainly dependent upon the intensity - i.e. how long it would take if you were to study full-time; it must not take longer than double. You need to check with the University if this is the case and also if the course is eligible with SFE. There is a link on the front of the SFE website which gives you some information and an application form to download (which must also be completed by the University) but they can help/advise on the phone.

I am also not sure how this will be affected by the cuts.... some part-time funding may well be cut and there is talk of loans etc. now being the way forward. It is very doubtful that you would get (much) help over and above fees, there is a £250.00 grant that is for books/travel but that's all.

dkmax_2

jollygreen wrote: »

ALL the financial help i can find is for full time courses... can i get ANY help with the course fees and my living away costs from any where???

From experience I know that assistance is very difficult to find. Sometimes an employer may contribute although getting them to give you time off is difficult enough.

If you do your sums you may find the new tuition loan package could be of great benefit although you'll have to wait until 2012.

Indie_Kid

You usually get a grant for fees and a small materials fees.

I am puzzled as my friend's daughters uni course is only three days but classed as full time?

This is normally the case. They're not uni that much because of the amount of self-study they need to do. Last year, I was doing 12 hours in uni and 40 outside. More if I had coursework due.