Help with university fees please

andfra

Hi


We would really appreciate some help if possible. Our Daughter is currently at University and is struggling financially.


Having started her second year she applied to extend here student overdraft but this was refused leaving her unable to support herself during the coming year.


She is training as an Occupational Therapist and has her course fees and grant of a £1000 paid by the NHS. They also give her a maintenance loan but this is means tested on our income so she does not qualify for all of it and has a shortfall of just over £2000. We are unable to give her this although of course we would like to, as we are in a debt management plan with very little left to pay our creditors as it is.


We were wondering if anybody had any ideas on alternatives to raising this money loans grants etc


Things we have tried so far


She is applying for jobs all the time but has had no luck finding one that fits with her timetable.


Access to learning fund (still waiting).


NHS hardship fund but she does not qualify as she is not studying medicine.


As I said any help would be appreciated as we are have real concerns that if this situation continues she will have to give up on university not an outcome we wish for her.


Thankyou.

dinky201

I been in same boat when a student, could go to "stationary office" and ask for booklet on what you can claim for. In that book it tell what she could claim.
She should start to look for christmas jobs and holiday jobs now.

Are you paying to creditors or debtcollectors?

Tixy

A job does seem the logical answer so definitely get her to keep trying.

Did the bank say why they could not extend her overdraft? any possibility of moving to a different bank that might give her a student account with a larger overdraft.

Maybe also try posting or reading on this board - Student Money Saving

Can you help her with her costs and budgeting at all to get the shortfall figure to a lower number?

andfra

dinky201

Thanks for the reply we are currently paying creditors.

andfra

jules1973

If she is training to be an OT, could she not work as a health care assistant on an agency or hospital nurse bank. I know they used to be flexible but I understand with the NHS cut backs, this may no longer be the case

swampduck

Can she apply for a bursary from her university? Some universities offer this for students who fall out of the criteria for help with fees. It may only be a few hundred quid but it all helps.

Swampy

Try looking at the OFFA website too- that tells you what bursaries are offered by what university.

dinky201

Also ask around friends and family if they know any jobs around, network