Student Loan 2015 Discussion

wiggyuk

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

I'm afraid that you won't get any funding to do a course like this and these short courses are not looked on favourably in the trade. You'll still need site experience to get the full qualification anyway.

Its ok saying that but I cant get a placement ive tried its probably down to two reasons the construction trade being dead at the minute and my age, everyone seems to want school leavers

melancholly

2sides2everystory wrote: »

Who said I wanted to do lots?

I wouldn't mind doing the same degree again 37 years on especially since whenever in more recent years I've been asked by HR erks what class it was, and I say 2:2 they then instantly dismiss it as if it was pretty small beer against say a 2:1 from some university that didn't even exist 20 years ago and probably won't in 20 years hence either.

the rules changed on that years ago - there is only funding for everyone to do one undergrad degree...... like it or not, thems the rules and that's what you asked about! if you want to do another degree, you can fund yourself and many mature students do, especially through the OU.

being a new university doesn't make it not worth going to by the way. plenty of established universities have poor reputations now and plenty of new ones do very well. i don't think it's fair to say that a degree from a new university should count for less on principle. all degrees aren't equal, that's a given, but to dismiss purely on age is probably unwise. Oxford Brookes is the classic example of a new university that is very good and ahead of many more traditional unis these days.

The_One_Who

melancholly wrote: »

being a new university doesn't make it not worth going to by the way. plenty of established universities have poor reputations now and plenty of new ones do very well. i don't think it's fair to say that a degree from a new university should count for less on principle. all degrees aren't equal, that's a given, but to dismiss purely on age is probably unwise. Oxford Brookes is the classic example of a new university that is very good and ahead of many more traditional unis these days.

You say it, so everyone else doesn't have to!

The history department of Oxford Brookes is one of the best in the country, but let's not let that get in the way of a misinformed rant.

melancholly

The_One_Who wrote: »

The history department of Oxford Brookes is one of the best in the country, but let's not let that get in the way of a misinformed rant.

although it does show a big difference between people who work with or for the HE sector and people who don't. there are a lot of misconceptions out there - and these will be present in people in HR departments and people elsewhere who make employment decisions..... it's worth knowing that no matter how well respected your university may be, there will be people who either don't know the sector or haven't had contact with it since graduating some considerable time previously. they may dismiss your degree out of hand, however daft/unfair that may be. for those situations, your degree class can be more important than the actual place it came from. (which is why many places just use a 2:1 cut off - it's practically very easy to do and helps reduce the pile of candidates down to a manageable level - you can't read all the CVs in detail, so some sorting process has to be done)

davestretty

Taiko thanks for your reply. Are you sure that is the case? After visiting Directgov my interpretation of the entitlement to maintenance grant/loan is that as long as you commence the course before your 60th birthday you continue to be entitled throughout the course length. If this was not the case it would be impossible to continue after 60 for anyone without private funds (although this should not be unexpected form the rich tory gang in power) as everything they have done since the election favours the very well off over the "middle incomers". Also would this not contravene the age discrimination act? Once again I ask Martin to look into this for definitive advice as I couldn't possible start a degree course at 59 only to lose maintenance funding at 60.

atypical

melancholly wrote: »

(which is why many places just use a 2:1 cut off - it's practically very easy to do and helps reduce the pile of candidates down to a manageable level - you can't read all the CVs in detail, so some sorting process has to be done)

Including automated CV screening. There's an article on it here:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204624204577178941034941330.html

"To cut through the clutter, many large and midsize companies have turned to applicant-tracking systems to search resumes for the right skills and experience. The proportion of large companies using them in the "high 90%" range, and says it would "be very rare to find a Fortune 500 company without one." At many large companies the tracking systems screen out about half of all resumes."

melancholly

atypical wrote: »

Including automated CV screening. There's an article on it here:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204624204577178941034941330.html

"To cut through the clutter, many large and midsize companies have turned to applicant-tracking systems to search resumes for the right skills and experience. The proportion of large companies using them in the "high 90%" range, and says it would "be very rare to find a Fortune 500 company without one." At many large companies the tracking systems screen out about half of all resumes."

we don't have a machine.... just a patient person!! very tedious work screening them with the numbers of applicants per job.

(and think of the extra pain in many public sector jobs where you can't just bin them, you have to score them against criteria to show that you did shortlisting fairly!!!)

gadgetmind

atypical wrote: »

At many large companies the tracking systems screen out about half of all resumes."

Fair enough if people don't meet the criteria that have been set. We don't use such as system as we get huge numbers of overseas applications (Spain, Italy and Greece right now!) and it's quite hard to match subject and grades, so all grading has to be done by eye.

I always start with the "motivation" (why that subject?, why us?) section first, then personal interests, and only then grades and experience.

Only 25% of the recent graduate interview and hires I've done have been UK applicants. I may start casually collating data regards applications to get a better picture of the country breakdown.

davestretty

Has this thread suddenly turned into a which degree is best discussion. I thought it was about student loans. If you wish to discuss which uni is best or whether employers discriminate perhaps you should find or start the appropriate thread. Lets get back onto student loans please.

uni2012

is it still at the lower level is you finihs a full time foundation degree this year and start a new (but full time) degree top up in a different uni?
Thanks
Both my uni's are giving different answers....