Mature student helppppppppppp

racht70

hi there bit of advice needeed please ...ok....im 35 and looking to do a degree in social science ...i work part time my partner dosent work at this moment and i have 2 kiddies....what monies will i be able to get...im looking to pack in work i earned 6,000 last year (inc tax credits not inc childs tax credits tho) i need to know roughly wether it would be worth me doing it...also any others doing the social science course i would love to hear how you are liking it........thanks so much peeps Rach xx

stuwilky

Hi racht.

There is a fair few things out there.
Dependants Grant
Parents Learning Allowance
Childcare Grant
plus a student loan and tuition fee support potentially.

The above is only confirmed for 2005 entry into a full time undergraduate course.

sockospice

There is money available but as a mature student with commitments you need to think practically, ie how will this qualification improve my job prospects? If you're doing it with a specific job in mind and you know it's the right qualification for that job, then great. If you want to do it because it's something you're interested in and you hope it could lead to something, think again. Consider alternatives, eg social sciences, you could study social work, where you'd get a bursary and pretty much have a guaranteed job at the end of it. Consider a part time course (so you could still work) or the OU.

BWZN93

The DD100 Open University Social Science course is a really good one too - I did it a few years ago, and was impressed. Id reccommend OU to anyone over conventional uni, and you get better grades simply because its part time, you can do it when you want, and the course materials are far better than anything I have encountered from conventional Uni. You can also get Student Loans for OU courses (up to £500 per year), and they are cheaper than full time uni courses. All with great tutors, online facilities, as well as a student card that allows you into most uni libraries.

Oh, and TBH, if you have other committments (i.e - kids, husbands, jobs, etc) then it is a much more flexible way to go - you are more likely to get extensions on deadlines etc when something awful crops up!

If you want any more info about DD100 course, PM me - I still have course materials etc and can talk you through what to expect, and what 'normal' uni is like (yeuch!)

Jo xx

elisebutt65

Hi rach
I started my degree last year. I get CTC , Dependents grant and Child Care grant, student loan and a little housing benefit whilst I'm at college and then in the summer I get IS and full housing benefit.

I may apply for a college hardshp fund next year - can be uoto £5000 depending on circumstances but trying to eke out what I have as the paper work is enormous!!!

I get about £11,000 altogether but obviously the childcare grant covers 85% of the actual childcare costs so thats in and then out again - lol. IS is neutralised by the fact that tey then take all my Child support off me, so the main beneffit is not paying rent and council tax through the summer.

Also things like prescriptions and glasses etc are free.

If your partner isn't working then he will probably a;lso be able to claim jobseekers if your not working as well.