Going back to full time study what support is available?

falko89

I have decided the only way to get out of my current rut of rubbish low paid work is to go back to full time study, I have already completed 1 year at the Open University meaning I would only have another 2 years or so left if I go full time.

I would get a part time grant because of my low income and am gonna pay for the rest myself out of savings. I'm 31 and want to get this over and done with ASAP so part time is not an option.

My plan is to get a part time job is a shop of some variety, would this enable us to claim working tax and perhaps housing benefit? As I say I have some savings but this will be eaten up by tuition fees etc. Are any other grants etc available to someone looking to study full time IE student loans or whatever?

Listerbelle

falko89 wrote: »

I have decided the only way to get out of my current rut of rubbish low paid work is to go back to full time study, I have already completed 1 year at the Open University meaning I would only have another 2 years or so left if I go full time.

I would get a part time grant because of my low income and am gonna pay for the rest myself out of savings. I'm 31 and want to get this over and done with ASAP so part time is not an option.

My plan is to get a part time job is a shop of some variety, would this enable us to claim working tax and perhaps housing benefit? As I say I have some savings but this will be eaten up by tuition fees etc. Are any other grants etc available to someone looking to study full time IE student loans or whatever?

Well done on deciding to improve your life

Why not continue in paid employment and studying via the OU?

Do NOT expect anyone or any government organization to provide support for your full time study. Grants are long gone. You will get nothing unless you are studying Nursing or Midwifery. You MAY be eligible for a student loan.

I returned to full time study aged 33 less than ten years ago. Not a penny (other than the repayable student loan) was available then. I cannot imagine that things would have changed.

Try to get a higher-paying part-time job, something like a care-assistant will pay more than retail.

Good luck with everything.

mynameistallulah

Have you found a course that you would like to do, and checked whether your OU credits would be accepted? How many points did you take with OU?

You talk about a part time grant but then say you wish to study full time - which is it?

Finally, you do realise a degree does not guarantee a job anymore?

Dunroamin

A year with the OU won't be equivalent to a year at a traditional university but it may well be acceptable as an entry qualification.

What course are you planning to do and what employment opportunities locally do you think it will fit you for?

Katexx

If you don't already have a degree you should be entitled to a tuition fee loan, so your savings wouldn't need to go on the tuition fees. Part-time grants aren't much - I got £265 last year with the OU and I believe that was about the highest they did for England. Certainly doesn't go far! I think with the new loan system that the OU are now using, part-time grants are even less...possibly called scholarships now? Admittedly I haven't looked into the 'new' system much as I'll be staying on the old one.

I study 90 points a year with the OU (120 points a year is the equivalent of full time study) and work full time.

falko89

mynameistallulah wrote: »

Have you found a course that you would like to do, and checked whether your OU credits would be accepted? How many points did you take with OU?

You talk about a part time grant but then say you wish to study full time - which is it?

Finally, you do realise a degree does not guarantee a job anymore?

I already did a year with the OU and got a certificate in IT, I think of the top of my head its 60 credits, so need another 240 is it?

No they will reward me enough to go part time, I will pay the rest to do it full time.

I realise a degree doesn't guarantee a job, but it'll get you further than not having one, I've spent 16 years scraping by, I went down the trade route which proved to be worthless and unenjoyable

falko89

Hmm this looks promising

Fee grant and course grant

From the information you have provided it appears that you could be eligible for the maximum award which would be:
Your fees paid up to a value of £1230 for courses of at least 30 points totalling up to 90 credit points or more.
A course grant of £265 to help with study expenses.

LittleVoice

How long were you out of work till you got your current job where you've been for a month?

mynameistallulah

OK, so you are intending to study full time with OU, not with a traditional university?

Are you a continuing student, or will you have to pay the new fees? They are significantly higher, so worth checking.

You will need 360 points for an Honours degree. I would not recommend getting an ordinary (300 points) degree - whilst not strictly true, it is seen as a sign of failure.

With regard to benefits, does your wife/ partner work?

falko89

LittleVoice wrote: »

How long were you out of work till you got your current job where you've been for a month?

I was out of work 4 months.

falko89

mynameistallulah wrote: »

OK, so you are intending to study full time with OU, not with a traditional university?

Are you a continuing student, or will you have to pay the new fees? They are significantly higher, so worth checking.

You will need 360 points for an Honours degree. I would not recommend getting an ordinary (300 points) degree.

With regard to benefits, does your wife/ partner work?

Yes I am a continuing student. My wife works part time 16 hours per week on min wage.