Courses which are an exception to the 'no-funding for a second degree rule'!

gaff111

I contacted Student Finance to check whether I would be eligible for financial support for a course which is an exception to the 'no funding for a second degree rule' and was told that i may be eligible.
On this basis only, I applied to UCAS and was offered a place on the course.
It has taken Student Finance ten weeks to confirm (on the day that my course starts) that the funding available to me does not include Tuition Fees as I have a PG Dip. The Maintenance loan and Parent Allowance are the only help available. But this makes it impossible for me to attend the course. (Though I have never had previous help from Student Finance) I have been informed that previous qualifications make Tuition Fees an exception to the exception to 'no funding for a second degree' rule!!
I have requested an explanation for how this decision has been reached and what policy it stems from as well as an explanation for why I was not informed of this when initially contacting them. I was told that they don't think there is a specific policy document which they refer to?
I am a single parent who has been made redundant from a previous profession and this late news is devastating. Any advise??

gaff111

I don't have a BA Hons as I was eligible for the PG Dip due to work experience and HND.
But all previous study was funded privately by an employer and not through public funds??
Thanks

Person_one

What course is it?

dizzyrascal

gaff111 wrote: »

I don't have a BA Hons as I was eligible for the PG Dip due to work experience and HND.
But all previous study was funded privately by an employer and not through public funds??
Thanks

It's the qualification that counts not the way it was funded. Just because you did not get funded by the government the first time around does not mean that money should be available for you to study another qualification.
Although you did not get a full degree you have the equivalent of a foundation degree and a higher level qualification in your post-grad so I don't think you can argue that you that you don't have degree level study.

nimbo

just because you did not receive loans does not mean that the degree was not subsidised by the government - one of the reasons that fees have gone up is so that the government can contribute less to the 'pot' required to fund a degree...

Sorry sweetie.

qazitory

I had the same trouble.

I never took a penny for my first degree as paid for it myself, and because of that, I've had to pay for my second degree myself as well

It seems you are punished for trying to better yourself!

Taiko

I'll look at this when I have some more time. Wording of the regulations regarding this isn't as clear cut as the above posters make out.

dizzyrascal

Can we ask what the course is? Or is it an NHS funded one?