Anyone know anything about ELQ rules and tuition fees please?

abbieno7_2

Hi

I am due to start a social work degree in September and made enquiries with Student Finance before applying to ensure I would be eligible for three years funding. The answer was yes as my previous course of study was part time over two years and was a teaching qualification (equivalent to a one year full time one at 120 units).

I'm now in a nightmare situation whereby SFE are now telling me that I'm not entitled as I've completed two years in HE before (despite also one of them having been self funded and part time as mentioned earlier).

I've launched an appeal but wondered if anyone else could give me some hope or had similar experiences?

Thanks in advance

Taiko

Any chance you could just clarify the actual qualification you got at the end of the part time course, first of all?

abbieno7_2

Hi Taiko

Many thanks for taking the time to reply.

The qualification was Certificate in Education (Teacher Training for the Lifelong Learning Sector).

Cheers

Taiko

Ok, if you can give me a few days, I'll look into it in a bit more depth for you. I just need to review a few things on the DTLLS qualifications.

The good news is that, with it being a Level 5 qualification, it is not an ELQ to the BA. Better news is that, even if it was, Social Work is an exempt subject under ELQ anyway.

My belief is that you are eligible, I just want to spend some time checking exactly how you are, so that I can help you draft an appeal. Unfortunately, I probably won't have the chance to do this until the weekend.

abbieno7_2

That's given me some hope Taiko.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Many thanks

Linette

Taiko

Sorry for the delay. Few little spanners in the works as I was putting something together for you.

Quick question though, but can you tell me the years in which you undertook the DTLLS course?

abbieno7_2

Hi Taiko

I completed my Cert Ed from 2011 - 2013. The funding had changed by then and no longer attracted full time finance, however, it was still an in-service teaching qualification hence why it had to be done over two years (as previously was also the case).

Hope the above makes sense and thank you for taking the time to look into this for me.

Net

abbieno7_2

Taiko wrote: »

Sorry for the delay. Few little spanners in the works as I was putting something together for you.

Quick question though, but can you tell me the years in which you undertook the DTLLS course?

Forgot to quote your reply in my message

Thanks again

abbieno7_2

Taiko wrote: »

Sorry for the delay. Few little spanners in the works as I was putting something together for you.

Quick question though, but can you tell me the years in which you undertook the DTLLS course?

Good morning Taiko,

Sorry to badger you but I just wondered if you'd had any joy with this yet please?

Hope me asking doesn't offend - I really am grateful for your help.

All the best,

Net

SuperCat007

abbieno7 wrote: »

Hi

I am due to start a social work degree in September and made enquiries with Student Finance before applying to ensure I would be eligible for three years funding. The answer was yes as my previous course of study was part time over two years and was a teaching qualification (equivalent to a one year full time one at 120 units).

I'm now in a nightmare situation whereby SFE are now telling me that I'm not entitled as I've completed two years in HE before (despite also one of them having been self funded and part time as mentioned earlier).

I've launched an appeal but wondered if anyone else could give me some hope or had similar experiences?

Thanks in advance

Hi,

Assuming that your Social Work degree isn't exempt from the normal rules (like NHS funded courses are) then SFE are correct. Ignore the phone advisers I've come to the conclusion they'll say whatever they can to get you off the phone so they can get to the next call.

It won't be an ELQ problem, but a problem with the actual amount of time you've spent studying in HE.

Your full time entitlement is: (length of new course +1) - (length of time already spent in HE) = entitlement.

In your case it will be 3(I'm assuming)+1 - 2(doing the Cert HE part time) = 2 years full time funding. So you will have to fund year one yourself.

Though if your course is funded by another source then those rules may not apply.

I have been caught out by the same thing, but I even have assurances from SFE IN WRITING that my funding will not be affected, but it still was and I cannot attend university and have wasted two years of my life going back to do A-levels.

Here are the regulations taken from an email sent to me from SLC (apologies for the weird line breaks):

Previous study is detailed under Part 4, Chapter 1, paragraph 12, 1b (i)


12.—(1) Subject to the exceptions in paragraphs (4) to (7), a “previous course” is—


(b) where the current course begins on or after 1st September 2009—

(i) a lower level qualification achieved following a full-time or part-time higher education course, a course for the initial training of teachers or a course designated under regulation 5(10), which the student attended or, in the case of a compressed degree course or a designated distance learning course, undertook before the current course;



The calculation to determine standard entitlement for a student is detailed under Part 4, Chapter 3, paragraph 21, 1


21.—(1) The standard entitlement of a current system student who has studied on a previous course and who does not fall within regulation 22 is calculated as follows—

(OD) +1) – PC

Where

OD is the number of academic years that make up the ordinary duration of the course

PC is the number of academic years that the student has spent on previous courses.

The full document can be found on: https://www.legislation.gov.uk

abbieno7_2

Hi

Many thanks for taking the time to reply - you sound like you have been treated apallingly by SFE - I really feel for you as it is extremely stressful as I am now finding out!

I am hoping and praying that Taiko will have found some loophole with mine having been a teaching qual that I previously completed. I also am led to believe that Social Work is indeed an exempt subject, as are some NHS courses so fingers crossed..... may be a long shot though.

I have still yet to hear back in response to my initial appeal to SFE but don't expect it to be positive and think I will have to fight it further.

I will keep you updated.

Cheers

Net