Student loan at age 57?

bundly

My friend reckons he can get a student loan and go to uni, and never have to pay it off because he'll be 60+ when he graduates and will never earn enough to be obliged to repay it.

He's worked since age 16, never went to uni, doesn't have a first degree, and has never had a student loan or grant.

Is it true? Or has he missed some crucial rule?

Bundly

Ed-1

bundly wrote: »

My friend reckons he can get a student loan and go to uni, and never have to pay it off because he'll be 60+ when he graduates and will never earn enough to be obliged to repay it.

He's worked since age 16, never went to uni, doesn't have a first degree, and has never had a student loan or grant.

Is it true? Or has he missed some crucial rule?

Bundly

Yes it's true.

bundly

Revisiting this thread, because my friend now tells me that he has an HNC and HND Diplomas and he has heard that you cannot get a student loan for a first degree if you have these diplomas. Is this true?

Ed-1

bundly wrote: »

Revisiting this thread, because my friend now tells me that he has an HNC and HND Diplomas and he has heard that you cannot get a student loan for a first degree if you have these diplomas. Is this true?

What am I eligible for if I’ve completed a higher education course other than an honours degree?

If you’ve completed a higher education course that leads on to an honours degree or other ‘end-on’ course (eg you’ve completed a Higher National Certificate (HNC), Higher National Diploma (HND), Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE) or foundation degree course), you can apply for funding for the duration of your end-on course.

http://www.nus.org.uk/en/advice/money-and-funding/ive-undertaken-a-higher-education-course-before--can-i-get-funding-again/

bundly

Ed-1 Thank you for that. Am having a bit of trouble working out that. He got these diplomas in the 1980s and doesn't want to study the same subject. Can he get a student loan?

Ed-1

bundly wrote: »

Ed-1 Thank you for that. Am having a bit of trouble working out that. He got these diplomas in the 1980s and doesn't want to study the same subject. Can he get a student loan?

You’ve studied before

You’ll usually get student finance only if you’re doing your first higher education qualification - even if your previous course was self-funded.

However, you may still get limited funding if, for example:

• you change course
• you leave your course but decide to start again
• you’re ‘topping up’ a higher education qualification, eg you’ve finished an HNC, HND or Foundation Degree and now want to do an Honours degree
• you hold an Honours degree or higher level of qualification and start a part-time Honours degree in engineering, technology or computer science (or a joint Honours in 2 of these subjects)

https://www.gov.uk/student-finance/who-qualifies

Yes, topping up a lower-level qualification to an honours degree qualifies for limited student finance depending on the number of academic years studied on preliminary courses such as a HNC/HND.

Alice_Walker

Is this the same friend you asked the question for in 2014?

bundly

Alice_Walker wrote: »

Is this the same friend you asked the question for in 2014?

I can't remember. I have only known this friend for 2 years and 2 months so if it was before May 2014 then it can't be.

People often ask me stuff about degrees and suchlike, because I have got one. But I did mine at OU without ever becoming part of the traditional uni "establishment", without a grant or a loan, and without having to qualify in any way other than by paying OU fees!

That's why I know nothing!

Edited to add: just found that 2014 thread and no, it wasn't him it was another friend, but one that got a BA in 1984. I have no recollection of posting that thread. I am nearly 60 and my memory is shockingly bad!

bundly

Ed-1 wrote: »

You’ve studied before

You’ll usually get student finance only if you’re doing your first higher education qualification - even if your previous course was self-funded.

Thanks Ed I have copied and pasted that to my friend.

He really ought to join MSE but he's not much of an internet person.

agrinnall

bundly wrote: »

He really ought to join MSE but he's not much of an internet person.

If he goes ahead I think he'll need to become one, I doubt if there are many degrees that don't require some online access these days.

bundly

agrinnall wrote: »

If he goes ahead I think he'll need to become one, I doubt if there are many degrees that don't require some online access these days.

Oh he will. It's not that he doesn't know how - he's a computer technician and webmaster - he just avoids "social media" like Facebook, forums, etc.