PGCE Open University secondary geography

lauracolley

Hi

The OU wesite says that the PGCE secondary geography course is classed as part time by student finance. This leaves me being upable to afford it as I have a 5 year old son to think of too. I would get £6000 grant for PGCE, but no student loan, maintainance loan or parents learning allowance. Does anyone know if I wouldn't be able to get any help towards childcare costs too?

Does anyone know if it can be studied full time instead?

Thanks:beer:

AnnBar

lauracolley wrote: »

Hi

The OU wesite says that the PGCE secondary geography course is classed as part time by student finance. This leaves me being upable to afford it as I have a 5 year old son to think of too. I would get £6000 grant for PGCE, but no student loan, maintainance loan or parents learning allowance. Does anyone know if I wouldn't be able to get any help towards childcare costs too?

Does anyone know if it can be studied full time instead?

Thanks:beer:

All OU courses are part time. Even if you are studying the full time equivalent of 120 points you are still classed as a part-time student.

lauracolley

just found out that 'possibility of full-time or part-time study', but 'The course is designated as a part-time course for the purposes of student financial support'

Thats a bit unfair, dont you agree? as I want to study full time so why shouldn't I recieve funds for full time student finance

www3.open.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/course/exg880. htm

Will ring up in the morning

Poly,put_the_kettle_on

Haven't the rules just changed on this? I think I remember reading that part timers will now be eligible for loans.

liney

Poly,put_the_kettle_on wrote: »

Haven't the rules just changed on this? I think I remember reading that part timers will now be eligible for loans.

This?
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/AdultLearning/FinancialHelpForAdultLearners/CareerDevelopmentLoans/DG_10033237

GothicStirling

Poly,put_the_kettle_on wrote: »

Haven't the rules just changed on this? I think I remember reading that part timers will now be eligible for loans.

It's a part of new changes which don't come into effect until Sept 2012.

A PGCE is a postgraduate qualification, so there are no student loans etc available. If you can't afford to go with the OU part time, you definitely couldn't do it full time at a brick and mortar university.

You can pay by monthly direct debit. I'm starting an MA in Classics with the OU in February. I had wanted to go full time at UHI but there was no way I could find £4,500 upfront. Instead I'm doing it over three years at £1500 p/a which works out about £150 a month.