Access to higher education diploma for OT

flea72

ruffus21 wrote: »

I am having similar issues. My 1st degree is with the OU which I finished in 3013.


I want to study OT as well but cant get a student loan as I already have a degree.


I am currently an ACCESS student with the 24+ loan system as my degree doesn't have enough of the right modules completed in the 3 year time frame that the Uni's wanted so I'm kicking around for a year at college but it is proving to be useful in honing academic skills that I didn't get with the OU.


If I get a place Sept the tuition fees will be covered but I am struggling on getting finance the rest of it, especially if I don't get a place at the Uni which would allow me to commute on a daily basis.


I am yet to solve my funding problem. Funding placements will be an issue too as I cant guarantee how close to home they will be as some Uni's will send you anywhere in the country.


At the moment it is looking like the expensive option of personal loans from places like banks.


If anybody else has any suggestions on how us "mature over qualified students" can fund our way into gaining further degrees, ideas would be welcome!


Ruffus21

If you cant commute/move away, then you just have to accept this isnt a suitable career option for you now

Fees and living expenses are paid by NHS, so i dont get why you need loans from banks. Unless your outgoings are more than the maintenance, in which case the course is a non-starter anyway without additonal funding. NHS entitlement is the same as student finance (other than not being entitled to uni bursaries)

travelling or accommodation at placement sites needs to be paid upfront and claimed back. So you do need some money behind you, before starting the course. Placement sites are not all over the country, each uni will have regional hospitals they use, that are commutable from the uni (but it usually a better use of time to move nearer to placements than commute)

In my own case my nearest placement site to home fell under a uni that was 1.5hrs commute away. But i also had a uni 45mins away, that had placement sites anywhere up to 3hrs commute. So i had to choose whether to travel hours to uni and hope for local placement. Or go to a localish uni and hope i wasnt placed miles away.

nash1977

Ruffus21, you will be entitled to the NHS bursary.

You will also entitled to the student loan but at a reduced amount because of the bursary. Normally, if you have a degree you cannot apply for a student loan again for a 2nd degree, however this is not applicable to NHS funded degrees.

With regards to placements, if money is an issue, uni's will pay the travel costs upfront if you request it.

eskimo26

nash1977 wrote: »

Ruffus21, you will be entitled to the NHS bursary.

You will also entitled to the student loan but at a reduced amount because of the bursary. Normally, if you have a degree you cannot apply for a student loan again for a 2nd degree, however this is not applicable to NHS funded degrees.

With regards to placements, if money is an issue, uni's will pay the travel costs upfront if you request it.

I'm surprised to find this thread still alive in 2015 so for those still wondering my diploma finishes in June and i'm predicted straight distinctions.

I'm now waiting for my universties to get back to me- cardiff, brunel london, UEA, southampton and oxford brookes.

Nothing yet and i'm hoping they won't pass me over or that i aimed to high with my choices.

I would second the advice not to commute unless the uni is very local, it's so stressful and you can't immerse yourself in uni life.

Also i'm sure you know but your 24+ loan gets wiped out when you complete a suitable degree in the area of study of your access course. Good luck.