Student loans for very mature students

marybelle01

davestretty wrote: »

Mrs Manda - you misunderstood the reply by Taiko - it was purely to do with funding.

Dizzyrascal - thanks for relevant reply - worth looking into.

Wobblydeb and marybelle01- For your information I am grammar school educated to "A" level and worked all my life in scientific research and development (extremely under valued, under payed, and under funded - students beware!). I come from a very poor background and could not afford university even when it was "free". I am coming to the end of my working life and would like to experience university and continue my education - hope you don't mind too much.

I believe strongly that the state and an enlightened society should invest in education and that should be funded by the people who have already benefited from it i.e. free to students. Perhaps a graduate tax on all previous and future graduates would be a fair way to fund university education. I strongly object to Cameron et al enjoying private education and "free" university education (which, along with family wealth, got them where they are today) and now believing they shouldn't contribute to the education of the next generation of leaders. Although due to seriously deteriorating health I will soon not be able to work, I would still like to live a life. I do not wish to cheat the system take offence at your suggestion that that is the case. I believe I have the right to receive all that I am legally entitled to under the current system, do you object to that. That is all that I want but the complexities of the system make this very difficult to achieve without expert help. That is wrong.

BTW I am a taxpayer and have never been out of work since leaving school. I will also continue to pay tax on the small private pension I will receive on retirement (Much smaller than it would have been if Gordon Brown and subsequent chancellors had not raided it!)

That is nowhere near what you said previously and I sense some element of justification with hindsight coming on here. What you actually said, on more than one occasion, is that this was a fabulous wheeze to get more income purely because you would never have to pay it back "thus getting round to some degree (haha)". Your words not mine. It hardly demonstrates a thirst for knowledge or a desire to do something you missed out on. "Whoopee does this mean that this mean and penny pinching govt has left us oldies a loophole ?" Again, your words, not mine. Or how about "That will bring in my pension and at least £15k per year (probably plus other benefits) which would better my current earnings without all the stress of a hated job". Sorry but I am not convinced by your belated thirst for knowledge. All this is is a cynical attempt to exploit a "loophole", in your words, to get more money. Let's not pretend otherwise.

heartbreak_star

If the thirst for knowledge is there look to the Open Uni - you won't get anything finance-wise except a bit towards books but your course will be free as you're below their threshold...plus you can get an Open degree studying whatever modules float your boat

HBS x

davestretty

Yes you are correct to some extent. I can't work for much longer and this govt's attack on the those needing help and the "middle" of society (I don't believe in "class") mean that I have to fund my and my family's future. This govt are only interested in lowering taxes for the very well off and particularly the obscenely over-rewarded rich (bankers,footballers themselves and other friends) by removing the 50% tax band - my god I wish I had to pay 50% tax!
Obviously then I can't afford to take an OU course and need all legitimate finance possible.
I wonder how many of you judgemental posters receive for instance child benefit that they don't really need but accept because they are entitled to it!!
Or how many still claim OAP when they have a personal pension worth more than they I ever earned?
Or how many poor pensioners do not claim pension credit because the govt have intentionally made it too complicated for most to understand.
Need I go on.

FYI I have always wished to go to Uni but never had the opportunity or funds - thank you Cameron for enabling me.

Wyndham

As a previous admissions officer for a University, then if I were looking at an application such as yours, I'd want to be convinced that you would see the course through because a) you were actually committed to it and b) you had the academic capability to do so. You may find as a mature student that you will need to sit an extra test or have some other form of assessment as part of being considered for the course. It's not that it's impossible, just that there is a duty of care on any University to be sure the student will cope.

If it is what you want to do, and you have something specific in mind, then go for it. But it won't be quite the easy road you think it is - for a start off, you're too late for standard entry in September 2012, and the people who did apply by the deadline will have taken a fair proportion of the places already. Universities do reject people.... many of whom apply with hope!

dizzyrascal

A lot of people do a degree at the OU when they reach retirement because, as davestretty has said, it is something they have always wanted to do and never had the opportunity because they have work, families and mortgages to deal with.
I think that planning to do a degree as part of your retirement plan is a wonderful idea. Even if the original reason for it was based on finding out about the funding.
You can find out about the 2012 OU funding here
It is not a cheap option anymore at £5,000 for a full-time year of study. But look into all the financial options they offer.
I know people in the eighties who are studying (sometimes for a second or third degree) and I think it is marvellous, whatever the original motivation.

davestretty

Thanks Wyndham, a constructive post which will be help in the future.

Can't afford to start this year as I still have children at university to support! It will probably be 2013 or 2014 academic years so I have time to prepare.
I have some ideas and interests but I definitley wouldn't study a science degree as after 40 years I've had enough of it!

I would still appreciate a definitive reply if possible on eligibility for maintenance grant or loan available to me for study.
I'm sure many potential grey students out there would also benefit from this.

dizzyrascal

By the way as a life long tax payer I think that you are more than entitled to get something back.
For those people who think you will be taking funding away from the people who need it - that's not how it works.
AND
Please don't use medical students as an example. They are very well rewarded once they qualify and we pay for the majority of their training through our taxes. Then, once they are any use, they clear off to the private sector or abroad for better pay and conditions

Mara69

Surely the OP will need to complete an Access Course in order to be eligible for University?

Any yes, marybelle01, I do find the OPs attitude quite distasteful. Very glad he is not my father!

Wyndham

I mentioned this year as you started talking about your wife, and the possibility of her studying in October 2012. If you still have children at University, surely that would be a factor for her too?

heartbreak_star

My parents didn't support me through uni, I supported myself...are your kids working or are you paying for them (just noted you had kids in uni). As for using medical school as an example, they end up in far more debt than all other students (except law students) and have at least double the length course. Read Confessions of a GP for more info.

OU is probably the cheapest way of getting your degree. Really check it out.

And just before you lambast me for claiming benefits just because I'm entitled, I'm also a lifelong worker, 32 now, no kids, never claimed anything in my life.

HBS x