PGCE Student finance eligibility?

lee1985

Please can someone help, I really would be most grateful as a teaching career depends on this.

I am currently in my final year of an honours degree at uni, I have about 6 years of previous study and only got this years support due to mitigating circumstances (providing evidence that i couldn't complete last year) I also receive the SSG as I have a disability.

I will hold an honours degree in the summer of this year obviously as this is a requirement for a PGCE.

I was under the assumption that for ITT full time teacher training courses, you are automatically entitled to full support, the Tuition fee loan the SSG again and the maintenance loan.

The calculator even tells me that despite holding an honours degree I am entitled to receive full funding for my ITT PGCE.

But when I click YES on the answer for this question:

"Answer Yes if either of the following applies:
I hold a qualification(s) equal to or higher than the level of course I am now applying for;
I hold an Honours (Hons) degree"

... the application tells me I am ONLY allowed the tuition fee.

Please can someone advise, am I entitled to full funding or not.
I would have thought it was obvious you need a degree for the ITT and I think this thinks I am saying I already hold a PGCE (the other condition)

Can someone confirm whether I am eligible for full funding for my PGCE this year?

Thank you

dizzyrascal

It all depends on the level of your degree and what you are going to teach. If it is a shortage subject like maths and you have a first class degree then you get about 20k but if you want to teach primary and you have a 2:2 then you don't get any funding, just the fees paid.
What do you want to teach and what is the grade of your degree?

agrinnall

[QUOTE=dizzyrascal;59235671
... what is the grade of your degree?[/QUOTE]

lee1985 wrote: »

I am currently in my final year of an honours degree at uni, I have about 6 years of previous study and only got this years support due to mitigating circumstances (providing evidence that i couldn't complete last year) I also receive the SSG as I have a disability.

I will hold an honours degree in the summer of this year obviously as this is a requirement for a PGCE.

Given that you don't yet know what class your degree will be perhaps you can experiment with different scenarios in the calculator to determine what support will be available for different results.

dizzyrascal

agrinnall wrote: »

Given that you don't yet know what class your degree will be perhaps you can experiment with different scenarios in the calculator to determine what support will be available for different results.

At this stage most students will be aware of what grade band they are in or can get. If all the marks so far are in the 2:2 band it night be possible to gain a 2:1 but unlikely to be able to get a first.
If your marks are indicating a third then you won't be able to get a PGCE place at all.
Subject is important but basically you can't pass go at the moment if you don't have a first or a 2:1
Good Idea to experiment but best scenario would be a shortage subject for maximum funding

lee1985

Hi Dizzy

These are bursaries though, I'm not referring to bursaries I just mean the standard SFE Tuition Fee loan, Maintenance loan and Maintenance grant the same funding as you get for degree courses.

I am sure that you can be eligible for these on a PGCE course, but would like confirmation. I know postgraduate subjects aren't funded but I'm pretty sure a PGCE is one exception.

The calculator just confuses me, it says I am eligible even when I say I hold a degree....

But when I click YES on the answer for this question in the actual application:

"Answer Yes if either of the following applies:
I hold a qualification(s) equal to or higher than the level of course I am now applying for;
I hold an Honours (Hons) degree"

... the application tells me I am ONLY allowed the tuition fee.

I presume the application just assumes I am saying that I already hold an equivalent qualification i.e. that I already have a PGCE and hence I would not be eligible. Which would be correct. But I don't already hold a PGCE and I only ticked the box as I will hold an honours degree (needed for a PGCE!)

Ms_Bertha

On my phone so can't type proper reply with links but for PGCE courses you are entitled to the same financial support as someone doing an UG degree. Tick no to the degree option and it should give you an idea of what grants and loans you can access. Hth

Edit... Meant on the calculator, not on actual application. Use this one https://www.gov.uk/teacher-training-funding

dizzyrascal

Ms_Bertha wrote: »

On my phone so can't type proper reply with links but for PGCE courses you are entitled to the same financial support as someone doing an UG degree. Tick no to the degree option and it should give you an idea of what grants and loans you can access. Hth

Edit... Meant on the calculator, not on actual application. Use this one https://www.gov.uk/teacher-training-funding

Yes that's what I got.
You get a loan for the tuition fees, a maintenance loan and a small bursary/grant.
Then you can apply for the other bursaries for shortage subjects and class of degree.
You used to get a bursary which effectively paid you fees and a grant to cover your living expenses. This had the effect of studying a PGCE without any additional costs. The only way you can achieve this now is to qualify for the extra bursaries

popadom

"Answer Yes if either of the following applies:
I hold a qualification(s) equal to or higher than the level of course I am now applying for;
I hold an Honours (Hons) degree"


May get this totally wrong...

The questions says "I hold equal to or higher to the level i am NOW applying for"

I would read this as : I have an degree, but applying for a HIGHER level (PGCE), so NO, I have not completed a course that is equal to/higher than a PGCE.

I had a quick go at one of these forms and got full funding(similar to now) but not sure if i entered something wrong...