Over 50s and student loans

Chomeur

I see there's a thread for the over 60s here, but I think one for the over 50s would also be beneficial. 

It sounds as if student loans may be becoming harder to get for the over 60s. So that makes me think I should start a course now, since I'm in my mid 50s. I already have a degree, but did not have a student loan for it.

If I apply for courses, how can I be sure that I will be eligible for a student loan for (a) tuition and (b) maintenance? As someone who already holds a degree, I understand that a subsequent one would have to be in the list of science related subjects here https://www.gov.uk/student-finance/who-qualifies, and that's fine. But the article says "You may be eligible for limited funding in certain circumstances." That's terribly vague. How can I get some certainty before I apply for courses? I signed up for studentfinance England, thinking going through an application there would tell me. But it says to make sure that I have already registered for a course. So that's no good.

Where are the actual conditions set out?

Thanks

silvercar

A quick look around and it seems the maintenance loan would be low. I don’t know why this particular university showed high on a google search on the subject, but it gives a breakdown of what your entitlement may be: https://www.glos.ac.uk/information/knowledge-base/sfe-undergraduate-pgce-funding/ a max of £4327 maintenance loan.

Chomeur

Thanks. That article is certainly better written than most that I've seen on the subject, although it doesn't mention the science exemption for loans for those who already have degrees.

But aren't you misreading it? The £4,327 figure is for the over 60s. For the under 60s, it can be a lot more. All the more reason for me to do it now.

Chomeur

Full-time or part-time? 

Advantage of full-time is you don't have to pay council tax.

With OU, most people do it part time. You can do it full-time, but can only get a part-time loan. Maintenance loan will be reduced 50%. 3* full maintenance loan over six years.

With a campus based university you will generally do it full-time. 3 * full maintenance loan over three years plus about £5K saving on council tax. In person tutorials (I don't think that in person or online makes so much difference for lectures), and better lab work. A lot less flexibility with holidays etc, plus 40 minutes commute for me per day.

silvercar

Chomeur said:

Thanks. That article is certainly better written than most that I've seen on the subject, although it doesn't mention the science exemption for loans for those who already have degrees.

But aren't you misreading it? The £4,327 figure is for the over 60s. For the under 60s, it can be a lot more. All the more reason for me to do it now.

I was equating the maybe get some maintenance loan for sciences with the some maintenance loan for over 60s. They may or may not be the same amount. 

Ed-1

Chomeur said:

Full-time or part-time? 

Advantage of full-time is you don't have to pay council tax.

With OU, most people do it part time. You can do it full-time, but can only get a part-time loan. Maintenance loan will be reduced 50%. 3* full maintenance loan over six years.

With a campus based university you will generally do it full-time. 3 * full maintenance loan over three years plus about £5K saving on council tax. In person tutorials (I don't think that in person or online makes so much difference for lectures), and better lab work. A lot less flexibility with holidays etc, plus 40 minutes commute for me per day.

You aren't able to get any funding for a second full-time course if you are studying an equivalent or lower qualification to one you already hold.

That may change if the Lifelong Learning Entitlement is implemented which removes previous study rules.

You are able to get part-time funding for a second course in limited subjects but studying it distance learning (e.g. an Open University course) means you can't get any maintenance loans.

Chomeur

Ed-1 said:

Chomeur said:

Full-time or part-time? 

Advantage of full-time is you don't have to pay council tax.

With OU, most people do it part time. You can do it full-time, but can only get a part-time loan. Maintenance loan will be reduced 50%. 3* full maintenance loan over six years.

With a campus based university you will generally do it full-time. 3 * full maintenance loan over three years plus about £5K saving on council tax. In person tutorials (I don't think that in person or online makes so much difference for lectures), and better lab work. A lot less flexibility with holidays etc, plus 40 minutes commute for me per day.

You aren't able to get any funding for a second full-time course if you are studying an equivalent or lower qualification to one you already hold.

That may change if the Lifelong Learning Entitlement is implemented which removes previous study rules.

You are able to get part-time funding for a second course in limited subjects but studying it distance learning (e.g. an Open University course) means you can't get any maintenance loans.

Thanks. I don't see part-time options for the courses I'm thinking of studying - generally it doesn't seem that they are that widely offered at undergraduate level other than at the OU. It sounds as if it might be worth waiting for the LLE to come in, as that could work better for me.