Is their funding available for a course?

PippaGirl_2

I am currently in receipt of IR ESA support group and would like to study BSL level 2. The cost is £400-600 locally which is money I don't have.

I already have an honours degree funded by student finance. Is there funding available for me to pay the fees for this course so I can study? I am over 24.

Looking online I am muddled but think my degree procludes me from being eligible for any (further) tuition fee loans? Any ideas?

yellowducky

Hello, I can't give you any advice about funding however, going back to when I started college (before i knew I was entitled for my fees to be waivered) I am on IR-ESA and i mentioned this to them and they gave me the option to pay monthly. So maybe it is worth asking them about?

whodathunkit

Have you looked at taking out a PCDL?

https://www.gov.uk/career-development-loans/overview

PippaGirl_2

yellowducky, the course details say monthly payments are possible interest free so I mentally divided the course fee by the number of months of the course (10) and was trying to work out whether it was possible but have since discovered that the payments must be made Sept, Oct and Nov with a deposit. A termly exam fee is also expected plus there is a 'small fee' to use the online part of the course for practicing, they don't say how much that is. It is now looking unachievable for me.

whodathunkit, that loan is not suitable in many ways. I don't think this course is covered by it so I wouldn't be eligible to claim it plus this commercial loan would need paying back one month after the end of the course and the course at that level does not lead to a job so I'd be stuck paying off a loan despite not having a job.

Much as I'd like to do this course as I am sure it might lead to work in the future if I progressed to higher levels, I don't think it is possible for me to do financially right now.

Cornucopia

There are new 24+ Learning loans. You need to be in receipt of certain benefits to be eligible, and rates vary between courses. Repayment terms are similar to Student Loans.

https://www.gov.uk/advanced-learning-loans/overview

PippaGirl_2

Yes Cornucopia thank you. I've looked at that and am sure I am not eligible as it only funds people who are studying a level not previously achieved before and I have already completed a degree so I am not eligible for it.

DomRavioli

24+ rarely cover level 2 qualifications. OP, speak to the learning provider to ask - my local FE college takes IR ESA as a qualifying benefit, but it varies from provider to provider.

Hope you manage to get on it.