No money to pay Uni fees...what can I do?

ChinUp_2

Hi there,
I need help for my partner who is at the end of his 3rd year studying medicine at Uni. Money has always been very tight but he has got through by selling things, e.g. downgrading his car and basically going without things. Its now come to the point where he has to pay £800 for his 3rd year final fee payment and he just doesn't have the money.

As this is his second degree he is not entitled to any help with tuition fees. He can't downgrade his car anymore as he commutes to Uni and so needs a car to get him there and back. He hasn't been able to work at all throughout the year as the course is so intense there is no way this would be possible, he is studying all day and night.
This year he only has 4 weeks off for Summer holidays and is struggling to find a job anywhere. He already has student development loan and overdraft almost at max limit.

It's really stressing us both out now and we see no way of being able to pay the £800 plus year 4 fees that will be due in September. It is such a shame as he is getting excellent grades at Uni and would make a great doctor. Does anyone know how he can get/borrow the money to help pay his fees and fund his 4th year at Uni?

Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks

chunkychocky

Speak to your bank. When DH was at Uni as a veterinary student he had a student account with Lloyds and they allowed him far higher overdraft and loans than would ordinarily be given to students as he was doing a 5 year degree with zero time for earning money throughout the 5 years, and he had to have a car for driving to farms and different veterinary practices. As it is considered that you would have to be very unlucky to not get a job with a degree of this nature they see you as a safer gamble.

Oldernotwiser

You don't mention whether you live together but do you (or does he) rent the sort of accommodation where there's room for a lodger or house sharer?

alyth

are you able to pay the fees in installments? Whilst you still have to pay the money, it would buy you time and it wouldn't be such a massive lump sum to pay up front.

or are there any charitable foundations that you would be able to contact to see whether they would contribute to the fees. For example, up here, there is a charitable trust that contributes towards the fees of anyone who has a certain surname (Menzies) as someone god knows how many years ago set up a trust fund. I'm not sure how you would find out whether there are such foundations, depending on where you live, and I only know this because I worked in law in Scotland for four years, the law firm I worked for adminstered the foundation. if you've got time and patience it may be worth calling round local law firms and seeing whether there is such a thing. Good luck.

melancholly

has he applied for the access to learning fund?

fizzle2006

He should apply to the university's discretionary fund for help. I'm sure it's open to all students. It's government funds and you don't have to pay it back. I was in a bit of bother financially this year whilst doing my honours in law and applied expecting to receive perhaps £100 if anything. However, was awarded £1000 which sorted me right out and left me with a little bit of money to save for my postgraduate diploma. Definitely worth looking into.

Voyager2002

There is a book, with a name something like "Directory of Grant-making Trusts". He should find its exact name, consult it in a library, and work though it writing to all of the many charities it lists who seem likely to help.

And does he need a car, or a bicycle? For distances of up to five miles, a bike is often faster than a car, and of course a lot cheaper.