How am I supposed to afford college at 30 with 2 children?

Elvisia

I wasn't able to afford to go to university - and I was just supporting myself. So I did my courses at evening classes, and I got two degrees this way. I was exhausted having worked a full day then doing my classes after that, but I got my qualifications and it was life changing. So there are way around this. I would suggest you look and see whether you need to do an access course, and go and speak to the admissions dept of the university or college, as they may be able to give you some guidance. Having worked in a university I can also tell you it can be a bit discretionary, we had a student do a masters degree who didn't have a bachelors, but he had enough work experience to merit it. As someone mentioned try the OU. Also consider maybe having the one children in child care for just 2 days a week, as many courses can be done part time, and even full time ones sometimes are only 2 days a week. Is it possible the college would have childcare there, or may be able to recommend somewhere cheaper?

Otherwise if all that fails then it will be a matter of either working yourself to save up the money, or waiting for the child to grow up. Are there any grandparents who'd be able to do childcare, even if they were paid?

I think you're first stage in your new studying adventure is to sit and trawl the internet for all the possible alternatives, and then go and speak to some colleges. You may find you qualify for a student support fund grant, I just got one from a local college - I had to write down my income and my outgoings and because I am left with hardly anything at the end of the month they gave me the cost of the course fees for free (the cost was then full by the time they agreed to it so I still didn't get on the course but that's another story).

duchy

blissfulbabe wrote: »

Student loans are not available for FE courses.

Funding for FE courses can be a bit challenging at times as the Government can (and does) make last minute changes to what can and can't be funded - the only thing we can be sure of is that is less money for adult learners as the government is currently pumping money into apprenticeships.

No they aren't which is why finding a way straight into HE may be a solution as both OU (fulltime 2 courses a year) or a foundation degree (often not needing Alevels for a mature student) will qualify for student loans/maintanance.

If the OP feels she isn't ready for uni without an access course it can be done part-time over 2 years -and qualifying at 41 is hardly a huge deal -it still leaves twenty years of working life !

I studied for a year with the OU before applying for a bricks and morter university -it reassured me I could cope with that level of study and also the uni liked the fact I had some recent study experience. In fact I found the standard of teaching with the OU to be superior to the traditional university and if funding was as it is now I'd have stuck with the OU.

marybelle01

skint-mum-of-two wrote: »

Hi

I'm desperate to go back to education to do an acess course but don't know how I'm supposed to afford it. I have 2 children, 1 at school and 1 that will need to go into childcare. I'm 30 years old and my husband is a police officer so earns 35,000.00 and everywhere I look it says I'm not entitled to any help with course or childcare fees. My husband does earn a good wage but we are not left with any spare money at the end of the month and sometimes some bills don't even get paid.

Has anyone got any information that would help me to get back into college please? I'm desperate!

Thank you.

skint-mum-of-two wrote: »

I've thought about waiting but he won't be starting school until 2015 and then I will need to do an Acess course (1 year) then the part time social work degree (6 years) so I won't qualify until I'm 41!!!!

If I may say so, and this isn't meant to be harsh, but from the perspective of a very experienced social work manager …

I am hearing that you are desperate to return to education, not that you are desperate to be a social worker. And to be honest, I am not really convinced that you are all that desperate to return to education. A family income of £35,000 isn't a luxury lifestyle, no. But nor is it a pittance, and if you were to succeed in becoming a social worker you would find that your clients are expected (by you, amongst others ) to live within their means and on a great deal less money. If you are genuinely desperate to return to education, then that is the priority in your life and you will find a way to make it happen. One of the most fundamental skills of a social worker is problem solving, and if you can't find ways of solving your own problem of how to afford something you desperately want within the budget of a family who are not on the breadline, I have to query how suited or motivated you actually are.

I should also point out that social work entry requirements go beyond ticking some academic boxes. Aptitude is rigorously tested, and experience in social care settings, either as a volunteer or paid employee is also required. Social work is an exceptionally testing career - it will stretch you beyond your resiliency threshold - and even after getting through the hoops of entry to a qualifying course and completing the course, the drop out rate in the first two years of practice is terrifyingly high. It is not a career to get trapped in - it breaks lives and health of people who do.

If this is genuinely what you want to do and you can't live without it, then you'll find a way. If you can't, pick an easier career, for your own sake.

Tiddlywinks

Your question in the title is:

How am I supposed to afford college at 30 with 2 children?

Sounds to me by your choice of words that you feel hard done by.

Why? It was your choice to have two children before completing your education. No one owes you anything.

As to your husband being a police officer on £35,000 and the fact that you not meeting some bills at the end of the month - that should be your number one priority as it is a real risk to your future.

Your OH is in a vetted position where he is required to demonstrate management of his finances. Debt is OK as long as it is not excessive and is serviced correctly. Having arrears and unpaid bills could very seriously impact on his job and career.

My recommendation? Don't stretch yourselves even further for your aspirations at the expense of your OH's job security as you could lose much more than you gain.

TrickyWicky

Dunroamin wrote: »

Wow, what a lot of misinformation in one post!

I'm sure as did mention "I may be wrong" or "as I understand it". That would generally imply "This isn't 100% gospel" surely?

Dunroamin wrote: »

1. The OP can't get student loans for an Access course.

Where did I mention an access course? - In fairness I didn't specify anything however I was thinking along the lines of a degree at the time of posting.

Dunroamin wrote: »

2. The OP can't get a maintenance loan for a part time degree course.

I don't remember mentioning anything about a maintenance loan (I didn't even know they existed so cheers for the tip!!!). How can I be wrong about something I never mentioned?

Dunroamin wrote: »

3. The repayment threshold for student loans is £21,000, not £25,000.

Again, I wasn't 100% on this but looking at this link:
http://www.studentloanrepayment.co.uk/portal/page?_pageid=93,6678784&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL



£7 a month seems like beer tokens so the only real repayment starts at £25k.

Dunroamin wrote: »

4. Scottish students don't pay fees but the do have to take out maintenance loans.

Which is what I said isn't it. I never mentioned anything about maintenance loans. Again I am correct and not wrong.

Dunroamin wrote: »

5. If someone's taken out a loan to train as a pilot, it'll be a PCDL and not a student loan so..

I also covered this if you re-read my post where I said:

(although that may not be student loans she's used as you don't exactly go to uni to learn to fly a commercial airliner!).

Dunroamin wrote: »

6. The repayments would be vastly higher than £30 pm.

Erm, go click that link I provided and take a look for yourself. If you're on £25k you repay £30 per month as I stated previously.

Dunroamin wrote: »

Alas, I feel that degree level study may not be for you!;)

You're the one making me out to have 6 wrong points when some are not only correct but also based on information from the horses mouth. Some points you raised I never even addressed in the first place yet you accuse me of being wrong on them!

Seriously, if you think I'm not suited to a degree you definately aren't.

McKneff

What's wrong with not qualifying till you are 41.

Could yu cope with the hours of a social worker given your family situation. It's not a 9 to 5 job by any stretchof the imagination.

Families are very precious, give them your time when they are little.
It is gone in a flash.

custardy

McKneff wrote: »

What's wrong with not qualifying till you are 41.

Could yu cope with the hours of a social worker given your family situation. It's not a 9 to 5 job by any stretchof the imagination.

Families are very precious, give them your time when they are little.
It is gone in a flash.

probably 30 years left till state pension age at that point.

Andy_L

Distance learning, evening classes, Part time study & a part time job.

Dunroamin

princessdon wrote: »

If people quoted the whole quote and not a partial quote then perhaps people like youreself wouldn't be quick to judge! The full quote was asking if they had a full level 2 qual (Ie 5 GCSE's grade A-C or NVQ Level 2 etc). Under CURRENT rules (guidance not yet fully given for 12/13 - but indicates that this will go for under 24's), the access course would be FREE regardless of income.


I can't post the link (won't let me)

But here is the relevant section of the Skills Funding Agency Guidance (google it for information)

"Section 94

From 2011/12, only the following learners will be entitled to full fee remission:


Individuals on Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) or Employment and Support

Allowance in the Work Related Activity Group (ESA (WRAG)). Fully

funded provision for these learners can include units as well as full

qualifications


Learners (of all ages) studying their first full Level 21 qualification


Entry2 or Level 1 aims (excluding Skills for Life) where a learner has an

entitlement to a full Level 2 qualification, in that they must have a highest

prior attainment of Level 1 or below, but need a step up from basic skills

in order to progress to a full Level 2


19-24 year old learners studying their first full Level 3 qualification


Level 3 ‘jumpers’ of all ages (those taking a full Level 3 or above without

having attained a full Level 2 qualification)


Learners studying aims that are Adult Basic Skills and Functional Skills in

literacy and numeracy, excluding Skills for Life English for Speakers of

Other Languages (ESOL)


Individuals studying Trades Union Congress (TUC) learning aims


An individual studying their first full Level 3 qualification that has left the

British Armed Forces
3 after completing 4 or more years of service or

have been medically discharged, due to an injury in active service, after

With regards to childcare funding there is "no rule". It is college by college who deal with hardship. For Eg I deal with 3 main FE colleges, their rules vary. One will pay 20% towards costs if disposable income is under a limit, one will pay 30%, the final one refuses to contruibute. All have one thing in common - They only do this at the end of the year (ie now) IF they have spaces in their own childcare facility and it suits them, they may not guarantee the same for Sept.

If you work in the field (as I did), I'm sure that you know how few people are accepted as "jumpers"; it's certainly possible but not very common.

I agree totally that childcare subsidy varies between colleges but I think this would have been clearer if you'd written "childcare may be subsidised " - I think that saying it can be subsidised suggests that it actually will be.:)

joeyfreak

You could consider a professional an career development loan:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/AdultLearning/FinancialHelpForAdultLearners/CareerDevelopmentLoans/index.htm
This is one of the ways I looked into being able to afford a college access course.