Going back to college at 22? HELP!

Gingie

Hello there ^_^

I suppose i need to put a bit of back-story to this, if i am to get any kind of advice lol

I went to college before, and currently have two A Levels and an AS level, which total to 120 UCAS points. (Double ICT, D+T, and Graphic Design)(I also attained 7 B's, 4 C's, and a D grade GCSE's in school)
With these i went to university to study Computer Games Development (using Student Finance to fund it).

However, in my first year i was hospitalized a couple of times (due to pre-existing conditions) and fell behind. In my second year i was supposed to do resits of the modules i failed, however, my father suffered a brain hemorrhage just before i was due to start, which made it difficult for me to study properly... I also ended up in hospital again because the stress was affecting my health (i ended up on antidepressants etc.)

Long story short, i ended up having to leave university.

I now currently work at a supermarket, and i dont earn very much money (i pretty much live in my overdraft) and have been there for almost two years.

I now feel it is time to begin learning again, so that i could achieve a more fulfilling career... but i do not know where to start?

I have looked at several courses, however i do not have enough UCAS points to enrol on them. I have also looked into going back to college to try and improve my UCAS score.

However, it all seems to come down to money I have no idea how i am going to be able to finance this "second bought" of education. My job says they could switch me to weekend shifts, so i could earn the same amount of money WHILST i am learning, but other than that, i have no idea how to pay for the courses, transport, and any materials i need

Anyone have any idea where i can go from here???

TheEffect

Gingie wrote: »

Hello there ^_^

I suppose i need to put a bit of back-story to this, if i am to get any kind of advice lol

I went to college before, and currently have two A Levels and an AS level, which total to 120 UCAS points. (Double ICT, D+T, and Graphic Design)(I also attained 7 B's, 4 C's, and a D grade GCSE's in school)
With these i went to university to study Computer Games Development (using Student Finance to fund it).

However, in my first year i was hospitalized a couple of times (due to pre-existing conditions) and fell behind. In my second year i was supposed to do resits of the modules i failed, however, my father suffered a brain hemorrhage just before i was due to start, which made it difficult for me to study properly... I also ended up in hospital again because the stress was affecting my health (i ended up on antidepressants etc.)

Long story short, i ended up having to leave university.

I now currently work at a supermarket, and i dont earn very much money (i pretty much live in my overdraft) and have been there for almost two years.

I now feel it is time to begin learning again, so that i could achieve a more fulfilling career... but i do not know where to start?

I have looked at several courses, however i do not have enough UCAS points to enrol on them. I have also looked into going back to college to try and improve my UCAS score.

However, it all seems to come down to money I have no idea how i am going to be able to finance this "second bought" of education. My job says they could switch me to weekend shifts, so i could earn the same amount of money WHILST i am learning, but other than that, i have no idea how to pay for the courses, transport, and any materials i need

Anyone have any idea where i can go from here???

You can go straight to university with 120 UCAS points, however you'll have to do a foundation degree.

A foundation degree is basically 2 years of a full 3 year degree. The entry requirements are lower. At the end of the 2 years, you can either take the foundation degree, or switch onto the the final year of a full degree.

For example, if you wanted to do a foundation degree in Computing and Networking at Bournemouth University, their course is here. Once you've completed it, they allow you to switch onto the final year of any of their computing degrees (BSc (Hons) Software Engineering, Computing, Networking etc).

That would be my recommendation.

Dunroamin

TheEffect wrote: »

You can go straight to university with 120 UCAS points, however you'll have to do a foundation degree.

A foundation degree is basically 2 years of a full 3 year degree. The entry requirements are lower. At the end of the 2 years, you can either take the foundation degree, or switch onto the the final year of a full degree.

For example, if you wanted to do a foundation degree in Computing and Networking at Bournemouth University, their course is here. Once you've completed it, they allow you to switch onto the final year of any of their computing degrees (BSc (Hons) Software Engineering, Computing, Networking etc).

That would be my recommendation.

Unfortunately that won't help the OP with the question of paying for the course as she has already had two years of funding.

TheEffect

Dunroamin wrote: »

Unfortunately that won't help the OP with the question of paying for the course as she has already had two years of funding.

I believe you get 4 years funding, so the OP will get 2 years funding for the foundation degree. They'd have to fund the final year themselves, which is hopefully a possibility if they're working part time through the first two years.

OP, did you get any credit for the first year of your degree that you dropped out of? I wasn't sure whether the modules you were retaking in year 2 were first or second year modules.

Alternatively OP, have you looked at the Open University? You can study for a degree in your own time. It's online, with more funding options than a brick university, and you can work full-time, part-time throughout, and adjust your education around your life. Take a look at open.ac.uk.

Dunroamin

TheEffect wrote: »

I believe you get 4 years funding, so the OP will get 2 years funding for the foundation degree. They'd have to fund the final year themselves, which is hopefully a possibility if they're working part time through the first two years.

The first part of your statement is correct but it would be the first year of any further course that wouldn't be funded, not the last.

(Even if you were right, you'd need to do a lot of part time work in the first two years to be able to pay £9k in course fees as well as keep yourself for a year!)

amiehall

OP I would speak to your doctor and ask them if they will support your application for student finance on the basis of "compelling personal reasons" due to your poor mental and physical health. Student finance have the power to award "extra" funding if they decide you failed to complete your original studies due to poor health or other situations out of your control.

RoxRoxBling

I too was going to suggest a part time foundation degree and work full time.
I would check how fees are expected to be paid for part time students. As you may not have to pay upfront, (like before 2012), but pay after your course has finished.

If interested in part time study. Do check the guides and articles on this website.
And ask more questions

missy12345

Google 24 plus loans. Sorry cant help further. Wish you the best x