Help- paying for PT distance learnt course

Pip123

Hi,
was wondering if you can help me. I'm 24 and working as a TA in a special needs school- i really enjoy my job but want to progress academically within special educational needs, in particular Autism in Children.
Have applied to do a distance learning course at the University Of Birmingham and have been accepted! (YAY!) The course starts with a Adcert which takes a year to complete on a part time basis. Only problem is my Tuition Fees. I can't find ANYTHING on funding distance learnt (part time) programmes. Obviously i will still be working at the same time so will not require anything else.Am i being completely naive in even looking for funding? I can't afford to pay these tuition fees myself.

Any help?
thanks!

heretolearn_2

First point of call should be the school you work for - will they pay for this?

You should also contact Birmingham uni about any funding arrangements they may have in place to apply for bursary/pay in installments/etc.

Otherwise you will either have to get a student loan (if the course is at the right level) or a career development loan.

Pip123

School cannot pay- they put me in touch with the local autism advisory service to see if they could help me and they can't due to budget cuts.
Just called Birmingham who have told me there is no funding for distance learnt course and to try external charities?

Can't seem to find a human to talk to at Student Loans! Anyone have a number for them? I thought this would be straight forward! How wrong was i? In tears- REALLY wanted to do this and its taken me years to build my confidence to even apply and it seems i'm just hitting brick wall after brick wall.
Thanks for the reply here2learn

heretolearn_2

Info on government scheme of professional and career development loans here:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/AdultLearning/FinancialHelpForAdultLearners/CareerDevelopmentLoans/index.htm

Student loans here:
http://www.slc.co.uk/

Most libraries have a reference book which lists all the different grants and funding etc that you can apply to charities for, sorry I can't remember what the book is called, but I know you can find it in most town-sized libraries. Go and ask them. It's possible an educational or autism charity will have a fund you can apply for?

Elle7

The uni are right, student finance don't fund distance learnt courses unless you are disabled and you have medical evidence stating that you have to study through distance learning. If you work, I'm presuming this isn't the case.

Next would be your school, or any schools who could fund you in exchange for working there, and then writing to charities to see if they can help. I'd get started asap, though, because they can take a long time to get back to you. Some might only meet once or twice a year to decide on all the applications.

I'd also contact all of the autism charities, and your local MP and council, to see if they know of any additional funding routes.

tiddly_widdly

there is no funding anymore Im afraid, the government have cut all part time funding for courses and only fund full time courses for those on Jobseekers allowance (or whatever the new name is). It would have to be a career development loan of some description Im afraid and these tend to be done thorugh banks. I think Barclays do one. But its a while since I looked at them so Im not sure of the details.

noname123_2

It maybe worth investigating if you be better off deferring til 2012, ironically enough

edit: this is assuming it is an undergraduate course? can you clarify what level it is?

thegirlintheattic

You will not get a student loan but may be able to get a career development loan from the bank.

There is very little funding about and unless this is going to really help you career wise then it might be worth giving it up the idea for a while.

podperson

Do they have the course you want to do at Open Uni by any chance? That's the only distance learning I know of that you can get help with the fees for.

MrsManda

There's an education grant search on the family action site which may provide you with options
http://www.family-action.org.uk/section.aspx?id=1403
Grants are generally competitive so it's by no means certain you'd get one but it's worth a try.

Can you defer and save for the fees?

Pip123

thanks for the replies everyone. It is a undergraduate course- why would deferring until next year make a difference? Going to research any other grants available.
Really irritates me that i work FT whilst those who are on JS can get it paid for. Effectively being penalised for working and paying tax. I wasn't expecting to get it all for free but at least a loan to help me out with the cost of going to uni. Should just quit my job and sponge! Seems to be the way forward these days.