Loans for Further education Students

CarolC_2

Hi
My son has been accepted at kingston Uni to do Foundation Studies in Art & design. This is classed as Further education not higher education but still has Tuition Fees (about £900) and accommodation costs ( £3500 for the year). Can you advise how we can get student loan as I can't find anything in the normal channels
Thanks
Carol

Oldernotwiser

Funding a Foundation year in A&D has always been difficult because it is FE and not HE. Students generally take this course whilst living at home and being supported by their parents. Many universities have worked around this by making the Foundation Year year 0 of the degree (making it a 4 year degree) and thus bringing it under the HE funding umbrella. It could be worth his while looking for another university where this route is offered if money is important.

Alternatively, does he already have a full level 3 qualification? If not, he could be eligible for an Adult Learning Grant and the new Level 3 entitlement funding. How old is he, what qualifications does he have and where do you live ?

CarolC_2

Hi

Sorry I don't know what a level 3 qualification is.
My son is 19 and has GCSE is the normal subjects, A level in Graphic Design and is currently completing A level Fine Art & As Photography.
We live in Basingstoke
Thanks

Oldernotwiser

Two full A levels is a level 3 qualification so he won't be eligible for an ALG. BCOT do a 1 year A&D Access course with much lower fees. It might be worth his while looking at this.

Gemmzie

If he's living away from home, then he might be able to be declared as estranged and should be able to get EMA (£30 per week) and possibly Income Support.

Oldernotwiser

Gemmzie wrote: »

If he's living away from home, then he might be able to be declared as estranged and should be able to get EMA (£30 per week) and possibly Income Support.

Not at 19, I'm afraid!

CarolC_2

I don't think my son considers BCOT as a good stepping stone to a degree course. Looks like we will have to find the money somehow. It's frustrating that it is not made clear to applicants that Foundation in Art & Design is not within in the Student Funding criteria.
Thanks for the info.

Oldernotwiser

The normal place to do a foundation art course is at your local college of further education; it's a comparatively recent development for universities to offer them. If he's turning up his nose at BCOT (which is a good college) then perhaps he should fund his choice himself!

seaweasel

The Scottish art schools and colleges have their foundation year as part of a four year degree, he could always apply for Glasgow School of Art, Edinburgh College of Art, or Duncan of Jordanstone if he's moving away anyway.

Oldernotwiser

Many English ones do as well eg. Bournemouth. Doing a Foundation year, away from home, at a university where it's separate from the degree, is the most expensive way of doing things!