Looking into going to college

toonandy

Hi,
Cutting to the chase, I am looking to go to college to study a HFED (HIGHER EDUCATION FOUNDATION DIPLOMA) this Sept for a year to then hopefully progress to a nursing degree at uni. I know there is a 24+ loan that will pay for the course i would want to study. I am 32 so would be a mature student with no kids or partner...currently in full time employment at the min as a dept manager in a supermarket. salaried to 39 hrs pay every week getting paid every 4 weeks but with me hoping to go to college this is where i need help... I am basically going to have to cut down hours & to colleague level so around 16 hrs per week with no other source of income, i'm going to be losing a lot of money. I live in a flat share & no where near parents....so wondering what help funding wise if any is out there to support me being able to live & help pay bills on top of my 16 hours at work wage.

Voyager2002

What has the college said?

feeling-good

No money will be available to you. The 24+ advanced learning loan will fund your course fees, but they will not offer any further financial help.

I completed an Access to HE course in June and will be starting Uni in September. Although the course was full time, we actually only had 18 hours per week teaching hours over 3 days.
Many on my course found they had the time to do full time jobs as well, so you can probably do more than the 16 hours you are planning on doing.

Also remember, you will have lots of holidays from college giving you even more opportunity to work. Therefore, if you can earn more in the holidays, this extra money could help you through the months where you may earning less.

It may be a struggle financially, but will be so worth it.

missbiggles1

If you cut down your hours so that you're on a low income, you might be able to claim LHA to help pay for your rent.

https://www.gov.uk/housing-benefit/what-youll-get

callums

I earn £5,685 per year as a part-time worker and have received a letter from Student Loans to say that repayments are being syphoned through P.A.Y.E from my salary to repay Student Loans Company in Glasgow. Are they entitled legally, to do this?

Indie_Kid

missbiggles1 wrote: »

If you cut down your hours so that you're on a low income, you might be able to claim LHA to help pay for your rent.

https://www.gov.uk/housing-benefit/what-youll-get

The OP doesn't need to cut their hours. LHA is based on income and how much rent you're entitled to. Not the amount of hours you work.

agrinnall

callums wrote: »

I earn £5,685 per year as a part-time worker and have received a letter from Student Loans to say that repayments are being syphoned through P.A.Y.E from my salary to repay Student Loans Company in Glasgow. Are they entitled legally, to do this?

Please start your own thread with a suitable title. But it sounds like somebody at your work has mistakenly ticked a box to say you are eligible for student loan repayments, so you need to speak to them about it.

iSlideOnItConstance

Why not study the access course via distance learning? You can pay in monthly instalments.

Academy Online Learning:
http://academyonlinelearning.com
http://academyonlinelearning.com/course-prices/

Distance Learning Centre:
http://www.accesstonursing.co.uk
http://www.distancelearningcentre.com/fees.php

The Manchester College:
http://www.themanchestercollege.ac.uk/options/1733/Nursing-and-Allied-Health-Professions-Distance-Learner-Programme-

You can apply for the 24+ loan to cover course fees with TMC.

Good luck

missbiggles1

Indie_Kid wrote: »

The OP doesn't need to cut their hours. LHA is based on income and how much rent you're entitled to. Not the amount of hours you work.

But if they cut down their hours, they'll be on a lower income, won't they? In which case they'll be more likely to be eligible for LHA. (It really ain't rocket science!)

Indie_Kid

missbiggles1 wrote: »

But if they cut down their hours, they'll be on a lower income, won't they? In which case they'll be more likely to be eligible for LHA. (It really ain't rocket science!)

Yes. But they'd also be on a lower income.