financial support for EU student intending to study A-levels?

dora95

I'm a nineteen-year-old blind student from Hungary hoping to start my A-levels at Truro College this coming September. I come from a single-parent family with no income whatever. As I found out yesterday, as a full time student I won't be entitled to any benefits when I arrive in England, so I'm desperately trying to find out where to turn to for financial help. My biggest issue is that I already have a level 3 qualification, which means I'm not eligible for funding from my college. You must be wondering why I want to study A-levels when I already have an equivalent qualification. The answer is simple: I'm aiming for an English language and literature degree from a red-brick university.
Now I'm trying to look into charities.

Any suggestions would be highly appreciated.

tomtontom

Can you not study by distance learning, or ask the relevant universities what they might accept as an alternative?

dora95

No, I can't. Just remember, I intend to study something I haven't studied before. I was allowed to study literature in EFL classes, but I had no-one to help me with my studies.Besides, not every university accepts online qualifications, especially not Oxbridge.
If anyone knows of an organisation or charity intending to help students in financial hardship, please let me know.

agrinnall

dora95 wrote: »

The answer is simple: I'm aiming for an English language and literature degree from a red-brick university.

The vast majority of foreign students at UK universities will not have A-levels. Have you actually applied to any of the universities you are interested in, or at least asked them whether your existing qualifications are acceptable?

dora95

They might be, but what counts for me is knowledge, not a piece of paper telling me I have been offered a place at a university. Besides, at an Oxbridge interview, you are asked about literature, which I haven't studied formally before.

dora95

Besides, if I applied straight to university, I'd be classed as an international student, meaning I would have to take the IELTS exam, which is a nightmare for blind students. This way I'll be classed as a home student. I want to study English, not English as a foreign language.

Could you please answer my question instead of trying to persuade me not to do A-levels? I understand that this is a very special case, so if you can't help me, just say so.

tomtontom

I'm not sure it is your blindness that is getting in your way but your poor attitude. There is no solution to your problem, hence people suggesting alternatives. Have you actually contacted any universities for their input?

whodathunkit

dora95 wrote: »

Besides, if I applied straight to university, I'd be classed as an international student, meaning I would have to take the IELTS exam, which is a nightmare for blind students. This way I'll be classed as a home student. I want to study English, not English as a foreign language.

Could you please answer my question instead of trying to persuade me not to do A-levels? I understand that this is a very special case, so if you can't help me, just say so.

EU students aren't classed as international students.

If it's any consolation, a British student in your situation would be ineligible for any benefits or financial help either, so you need to be more flexible and realistic in your approach.

dora95

This is when I realise I forgot to mention the most important thing.
I'm a triplet, two of us are blind. We were raised by a single mother who is unemployed, so you can guess what we live on.

Is it possible to get a job as a full time student?

dora95

I know you're only trying to help me, and I do appreciate your suggestions. I've just been misunderstood countless times. Maybe I didn't give you enough details. To the previous poster, I was told I'd be able to claim disability allowance three months after my arrival, but it's obviously not enough to live on. I know very well I'm not entitled to financial help from the government, so I'm looking into charities. I've already contacted two, and I was just wondering if you knew of any others.

orangeslimes

dora95 wrote: »

Besides, if I applied straight to university, I'd be classed as an international student, meaning I would have to take the IELTS exam, which is a nightmare for blind students. This way I'll be classed as a home student. I want to study English, not English as a foreign language.

Could you please answer my question instead of trying to persuade me not to do A-levels? I understand that this is a very special case, so if you can't help me, just say so.

You need to be resident here for 3 years, not solely for the purposes of eduction to be classed as a 'home student'. You'll be classed as an EU student otherwise.

Also bear in mind you might still have to do an IELTS exam or equivalent even if a 'home domiciled' student -I have a Hungarian friend who has lived here longer than 3 years so is a home student, and he still had to do an English as a foreign language test to get into his course, as English is not his native language. I think if you had to do the test, adjustments could be made for blindness.

But yes as a full time student, and EU citizen there's nothing stopping you getting a job if you can find one. That's probably your best bet, or trying to work for a bit and saving up money.

You should also note A-levels aren't the only qualification available in Britain, that will get you into University.