Returning to college with kids?

tentickles666

Does anyone know if I can get help to return to college? I can get a tuition loan but im trying to work out how to pay rent etc while retraining.

Im mid 30s and can claim for one child (age 14)

I desperately need to get out of my current industry, I want to retrain as a beauty therapist so I can work anywhere and potentially be self employed in the future. Has anyone here returned to college as an adult and has any advice? Is an adult apprenticeship the only way?

Im just lost as to where to ask, the gov careers advice can tell me about student finance etc but not about any benefit type things

Neil_Jones

Distance Learning (Open University, etc) could be an option. If finances are going to be an issue you may have to keep your current job and study in your own spare time towards your course. Open University will allow you to apply for a student loan or similar.

Modern Apprenticeship is another potential solution but the first years pay on these is less than £4 an hour, so you'd be working for peanuts for a year if you do one of these full time 37hrs a week, gross about £140 a week.

sheramber

https://www.nus.org.uk/en/advice/money-and-funding/can-i-claim-government-benefits-as-a-student/#1

Have you checked that the course you want to do and the college you will attend will qualify for student finance?