Second-time student - help!

spudfish

I finished my first degree (Drama and Creative Writing, hence my return to uni!) in 2005 after taking out three years' worth of loans.

I've now returned to the same uni to do an Engineering degree. To my amazement, students now get a tonne of free money when they take out a loan.

I'm high and dry however, As i've had one lot of money, its difficult to get the LEA or SLC to lend me some more just so i can get the 'free' money.

i'm very very broke at the moment, and while i'm looking for work and running some comedy gigs i could do with a cash injection - any ideas?

WillowCat

It's not really free money though is it?

The means tested grant is a bonus, but the fees are a lot higher now than when you took your first degree and that has to be paid off.

I don't mean to sound harsh, but it seems a shame that so many students do creative degrees that are probably good for the soul but less good for getting a job.

How about doing engineering with the OU so you can work at the same time?

tbs624

If you finished Uni in 2005 have you been working in the interim period between then and taking up the engineering degree? If so, maybe it would have been better to have saved some money up and delayed your course? The OU's engineering degree would also have been a good option ( still could be - you could use CAT to transfer any modules. You'll no doubt discover that you also won't unfortunately qualify for many of the bursaries and trusts as it's your second undergraduate degree. Can you get a full time job lined up for the holidays? What about getting involved with helping a local children's drama club if there is one (paid I mean) - there is one that is a national franchise. Does the Uni have a job vacancies board? Could you offer coaching in anything?

louisa7835

Probably not the answer you are looking for but I would recommend getting a job as a waiter / waitress. I did this for my whole time at uni and worked 15 hrs per week but regualrly took home in excess of £200 through tips. (Sometimes £100 in tips just on a saturday night) You need to find a good restaurant (the more upmarket the better) which is full waitress service where the bill is presented at the table.

Easy money in my opinion

Good luck

thevinternet

spudfish wrote: »

I finished my first degree (Drama and Creative Writing, hence my return to uni!) in 2005 after taking out three years' worth of loans.

I've now returned to the same uni to do an Engineering degree. To my amazement, students now get a tonne of free money when they take out a loan.

I'm high and dry however, As i've had one lot of money, its difficult to get the LEA or SLC to lend me some more just so i can get the 'free' money.

i'm very very broke at the moment, and while i'm looking for work and running some comedy gigs i could do with a cash injection - any ideas?

We're in the exact same boat. I don't qualify for anything either - not even my uni hardship fund. :rolleyes:

However, I am making ends meet by working a lot. It's quite satisfying in a way, knowing that not only am I not building up any more debt, I'm actually getting rid of some!

Have you thought about applying to be an online researcher for AQA? If you've done a degree that involves writing, you'd probably be quite good at it. Go to https://www.63336.com and see if they have any vacancies...keep checking since it changes every week. I can usually clear £100 a month on there and you can work your own hours.

And no disrespect Willowcat - you are entitled to your opinion, but it's sometimes very hard to choose what you want to do in life at the age of 15 when you are choosing your A-levels....which strongly dictates which degree paths are open to you. Not everyone knows what they want to do from the age of 5!

Also teachers often push you to do a degree in something you are good at - rather than something that you actually want to do with your life. I've found this out the hard way, but now that I'm finally studying something worthwhile with great career prospects, I feel happier than I ever have done before, so my advice is to go for it. Nonetheless, the OU may be a great idea for you Louisa (they don't offer my course sadly).

Oldernotwiser

I'm not sure whether you'd be in time for this year, but it might be worth looking at the possibility of sponsorship. Depending on the type of engineering you'll be studying there are various possibilities. Try Googling "engineering degree sponsorship and go from there.

paul_raynes

I'm doing my masters and i'm funding it all myself so i'm in a similar boat. I had no savings and like you i'm not entitled to any of the "free money" undergrad students get. Obviously you have all the generic student ways to saving money available to you. Here's a few ideas which might help further though:

• Sell your rights away

Many companies out there will pay for you to base your assignments and particularly your dissertation on their company. It works out cheaper for them then paying a research company. By showing the quality that you did in your previous degree you'll be at an advantage. Go speak to your lecturers about companies which have approached the university or dig out the yellow pages and start calling around. The downside is you lose control over what you write about

• The Access to Learning Fund

The damn people didn't give me much support when i really needed it but they give loads away to people without expecting any of it back. Go to your university finance department and see what they say. While you're there get friendly with the chief cashier and director of finance. They can help bend the rules a bit for you if you ever really need them.

• Work for the university

Then they pay for your course.

spudfish

thanks everyone!

I am currently looking for work and have worked this year, and i fully expect to work through most of this one, as i did the first time round.

As has been mentioned, with fees etc, its far more expensive this time round though, and any help is welcome, hence me asking!

I came to the course via clearing after thinking long and hard about a) where my career was (nowhere) and b) where i was (ditto).

at 23, i knew that if i were to start on this course ( a one year foundation course then three year degree) i'd have to decide soon, i'll be 27 (hopefully) by the time i finish. Not old in any way, but old enough to be much older than many of my student peers when looking for work.

Who after all, would employ a 29 or 30 year old graduate, when there are equally qualied 22 year olds? 27 doesnt sound too bad.

AS to sponsorship, well, i've asked and asked and asked, and every company so far says that it doesnt sponsor below second year.

the OU was an option, until i got a girlfriend in liverpool. i'd rather suffer some hardship and be with her over here than without her in liverpool

thanks for all the help so far :money:

mark1024

You are very lucky to have started a course already. I am hoping to take a second degree this year, but still have no idea as to fees. The government has decided to remove funding for people taking second degrees, supposedly starting 08/09, meaning that the course fees could increase from £3000 to £10000+ per year. Kind of puts things into perspective.