Timing for PGCE

Suziebea

I am considering applying for the Primary PGCE course, possibly in 2012/13 or 2013/14, but need to work out how this might affect my children's university plans.

Currently DS1 is in his 1st year of a 3 year course, and will finish in 2013. DS2 is doing GCSE's this year, and if all goes as planned will be looking to start uni in 2013.

DS1 is currently on a current year assessed loan/grant, but DS2 should be assessed in the usual way - unless I go to uni then too, when we would apply for a current year assessment for him, as my income would be nil. From reading other posts it seems that even if our income drops substantially we can't apply for a further CYA for DS1, so this really rules out me applying for 2012.

We would need to apply for both tuition fee and maintenance loan for myself and DS2. Would SLC take into account that DH was supporting two students?

Also, I originally graduated in 1985, and then did a professional qualification for 1 year, both funded by LA grants (with a small parental contribution). Will this affect my entitlement to a student loan?

Any advice would be welcome, as I am keen not to compromise my children's futures, but don't really want to wait another 6 years before progressing my own career.

Oldernotwiser

Your income won't be nil when you do your PGCE; you have to take student funding into account for the assessment.

Suziebea

Thanks Older, hadn't realised that, but how will I know the figures, and would any tuition fee loan be taken into account as well?

Oldernotwiser

Suziebea wrote: »

Thanks Older, hadn't realised that, but how will I know the figures, and would any tuition fee loan be taken into account as well?

I said that so confidently because it is used to assess means tested benefits but I can't find evidence at the moment, so perhaps it isn't the case. (I'll keep looking.)

The tuition fee loan is definitely NOT taken into account.