Confused by student loans.

marianne83

Sorry if this is on the wrong forum.



Right I'm 27 and currently living with my parents. I've finally figured out what I want to do with my life and found the perfect course to help me achieve it.



The problem is the costs. I work full time at the moment but the tutor for the college course (it's level 3) has told me there is no chance I would be able to do the course and work even half the hours I do as the workload is so heavy. I can afford a small drop in hours but not enough to enable me to get through all the assignments.



My parents will not help to support me and to be honest at 27yo I do not expect them to. I pay them rent for my room/gas/electric and water and I buy my own food and run my own car. The car would be needed in order to do this course as the college is an hour and a half away and there are no buses which would get me there in time no matter how early I leave.



The college have said that my Dad earns too much so I cannot get any financial support because the government have changed the rules for this year. Anyway I decided to do my own research, mainly banging my head against a brick wall because I'm so desperate to do this course that starts in early sept 2011.



Then i got a small glimmer of hope that I might be able to get some help after all in the form of non-income assessed student loans. I’ve just read about it in this article on this website (it wont allow me to post link)

/banking/student-money-saving



At the moment I don't dare believe it might be possible after all as everything else is telling me there is no possible way to get finance.



Can anybody help/advise me any further?



Thank you.

marianne83

The course is BTEC level 3,

Previously I've done GSCE's including maths, english, science and a level 1 NVQ.

Oldernotwiser

I'm afraid that student loans are only for level 4 courses (degree level).

What subject is the BTEC you want to do and can you get on the course with your existing qualifications?

marianne83

Oh right I must have read the .gov site wrong, it gave me the impression it was for anything above school... never mind then.

It was an animal care qualification and I've already been offered an unconditional place on it. Will have to tell them I cannot do it.

Thanks.

chanie

Could you not defer for a year and save up as much money as you can and take your place next year.

DCFC79

Is it not available at a college, might be cheaper to do plus you could get a job whilst you study.

marianne83

cheaper to do than college? I have worked since I was 14 and have no plans to stop working now, just cant afford to take such a huge cut in hours in order to get to go to college. It is the only course available in this area, I have done a lot of research.

Thanks though.

ViolaLass

If you've been working since you were 14, do you have any savings?

Could you do the course part time?

marianne83

I wish I did, unfortunately my jobs have always been barely enough to manage on. I lived away from home until recently because of the reason I had no chance to save and things were getting tighter and tighter moneywise. I'm certainly not expecting a free ride but it's so frustrating because I'm stuck now all because I didn't know what I wanted to do when I was younger and now I have more motivation to study hard. The course is already condensed down as far as possible so part time isn't an option.
Doing it next year is a good idea but I still wont be able to save a sufficient amount in that time to do the course. I cant get a better paid job without qualifications and I cant take a second job as my hours are really stupid, mix of mornings and evenings rotating on a day to day basis, my days off are different every week. I've been looking for a new job for 2 years now.

attila_

If its a BTEC then could i assume its vocational? if so could you try to get a sponsorship or funding from a company (and in return work for them x number of years after the course)? I've seen thia done with vocational degrees.

marianne83

I shall have a look into that, not sure what the chances are but worth a go hopefully, Thanks