Funding for a Masters (Psychology MSc)

Loki86

I always wanted to study Psychology and become a trained Psychotherapist. At college I was persuaded to study Journalism and I graduated in 2009.

In April this year I discovered I could do a conversion degree with a Psychology Masters. Being out of education I thought it was a long shot but applied and got accepted for September!

MSE has been helpful with the advice on Professional Career Development Loans - PCDL - a government scheme in association with Barclays or Co-op only.

I applied for Barclays but got rejected due to a credit check. I had previously been rejected for a Nationwide Credit Card in January and then an Argos card in March.

Again MSE helped me here. I purchased my credit report on Equifax and Experian (all 3 companies above used this) and found one problem, a default from an old mobile phone contract.

I thought I had ended the contract in Feb 2013 and got a new number with a different company.

I moved out of my London flat in October 2012 and moved to Peterborough. Despite 3 mobile having my Peterborough address on record the missed payments on my credit report are down for my London address march 2013 to sept 2013 - despite not living there since October 2012. I had no knowledge I owed them money. No letters were sent to my Peterborough address.

I paid the £48 in question last week as I am hoping it would improve my credit score. I also registered to vote in Peterborough which I had not done since I moved here in late 2012.

I have until the 9th July to re apply for the PCDL with Barclays. I've contacted Experian with this information and hoping it will be changed before Barclays do another check.

Is there anything else I can do?

I am desperate to start this course in September and waiting another year would not be suitable as I have many years of studying ahead of me.

I found the Student Funder site today and considering applying for a loan with them to fund my course. However I fear my credit report will still go against me.

The problem with 3 mobile is the only negative on my report.

Advice please!

Thank you

From long time reader of the forums

Tixy

A satisfied default will look marginally better to lenders than an unsettled defaults. If you paid last week it could well take up to a month from then for the creditor to update your file to show it was paid..

Getting on the electoral roll would also help. When did you contact the council to go on the e/r? It usually takes up to a couple of months for this information to be reflected on your credit file.

By July 9th it is probably unlikely that both of these updates will be reflected on your credit file.

Loki86

Thanks for the reply Tixy

I was dreading that reply but expecting it also. I know I can try and repair my credit rating and apply again next year but it's a further set back.

I registered on E/R on the 17th this month.

Paul_the_Painter

I take it you have already done your research on the likelihood of you getting onto a clinical psychology specialist training course post your masters degree? These are EXTREMLEY competitive, hundreds of people applying (who are qualified to apply) for each place.
I would not want to dash your hopes of following your chosen career path, but please do your research, and speak to people before borrowing the money for a course that may not lead where you want it to.

penguingirl

Paul_the_Painter wrote: »

I take it you have already done your research on the likelihood of you getting onto a clinical psychology specialist training course post your masters degree? These are EXTREMLEY competitive, hundreds of people applying (who are qualified to apply) for each place.

The OP actually said they wanted to do psychotherapy training, not specifically clinical psychology training. I know people with psychology careers who have trained as CBT therapists (much more common now thanks to IAPT services), psychodynamic psychotherapists, art therapists as well as clinical psychology, counselling psychology, forensic psychology, health psychology or educational psychology- there are lots of ways to get trained in psychotherapy!

OP if you are looking at clinical psychology-related careers, I would recommend the website https://www.clinpsy.org.uk , there's lots of useful discussions on there.