Can't a student holding 'Limited to Remain visa' get student loan?

warin_greenway

Hello,

Firstly, sorry for my bad English - english isn't my first language.

My name is Warin, and I graduated Marine Bio-Geo-Chemistry degree in Bangkok, Thailand. Now I have been living in the UK with my husband and have just been accepted to be a MSc student in Birmingham University which will start this October. Unfortunately, as I have been living here less than 3 years, I will have to pay in 'International Rate' which is about 3 times higher than home/EU student. Firstly, we though it should be ok as we could apply for a student loan or career development loan.

Last week I went to Barclay Bank asking for the student loan and career development loan, they said 'they will consider a loan for just only UK citizen'. I was a bit shocked actually.

I don't know what to do now, I can't get a loan but I want to study and get a good job when graduating.

Can anybody helps please,

If I can't student loan, but I need money, what should I do? where is the best place to start?

-is it worth to get a personal loan which higher interest? If so, which lender offer cheapest rate?


Please help, I do really stress at the moment

Many thanks and hope you all can help!

Warin

Gingernutmeg

The 'student loan' isn't available for postgraduate courses, even for home students.

Other options include looking for funding, through a scholarship or an award (although these are hard to come by, there are occasionally some for students from specific places/or on specific courses which may be of benefit to you). You could also take the MSc part time over two or three years and work during that time, although I'm not sure, as a non-UK resident, how many hours per week you'd be allowed to work. I know that my American friends who were doing post-grads were only allowed to work 20 hours per week, although this may have changed. You could also try a different bank or building society, or, if you're not planning to apply for permanent residency, is there any chance you could get a loan in your home country? Also, have you contacted your university? They may be able to suggest some sources of funding to you.

Perhaps your other option, if taking the MSc part time and working is not feasible, is to wait until you have been here three years and then reapply - you would then be able to get the home student rate and possibly be able to apply for the loans with more success.

continentalgal

Haven't looked at it in detail but on the HERO (UK university guide) website, there's a section for international students with advice for financing. There are several further links that may be worth checking out. Good luck!

Voyager2002

I suggest that you get a job first. Apart from anything else, you will learn more from your course if you have some kind of relevant work experience to which you can relate it. And your employer might even sponsor you for your studies.

In general, an MSc degree does not do a great deal to help you get a job.

continentalgal

Voyager2002 wrote: »

In general, an MSc degree does not do a great deal to help you get a job.

sigh, gone are the days when work experience was worth more than a bloody piece of paper (degree) ...

Voyager2002

continentalgal wrote: »

sigh, gone are the days when work experience was worth more than a bloody piece of paper (degree) ...

Sad to say, you need both. After completing my MSc I couldn't get interviews for any of the jobs I wanted (which was why I did the bloody thing in the first place!). With a PhD I usually get interviewed, but job offers are still few and far between.

Anyway, I fear that the OP could get seriously into debt by borrowing at commerical interest rates, and international student fees are enoromous. And there is no guarantee of a job afterwards, particularly since only a minority of British employers understand the value of a BSc from Thailand.

continentalgal

Shame the OP hasn't come back to this thread, it doesn't sound though that she may get private funding (loans) in the first place.

I read the post again and was wondering why she would talk to Barclay's about a student loan and/or career development loan because that's the wrong place to apply for either of them?