Student seeking additional loan other then student loan...

[Deleted User]

A Career Development Loan from a bank might be a good idea. This is how most DipArch students fund themselves.

Here are some other suggestions;

You can apply for help from your Uni's 'Access to Learning Fund'. This may be called 'hardship' or 'financial aid' or some other such thing.

You can try searching for scholarships online
www.scholarship-search.co.uk
www.funderfinder.co.uk

If you go to the Uni/local library you may be able to get hold of a copy of the "Educational Grants Directory" which contains details of charitable grants available to students. ISBNs 1 903991 75 7 OR 978 1 903991 75 6

hope this helps

lan30

Hi caj56k,
I understand what you are going through because I know someone who is pursuing to become an architect. I was actually the fool who helped him the first three years of his school. If it has not been for me I don't think he would have made it this far. I won't go into much details, but I'll tell you a little about him. He has 8 children with four different women. He is married to his third wife whom he chose over me....long story... I bought him a laptop that was worth 5 grand. I have it now and his password was no1kndo01, which means "no one can know the other one."..pathetic right? He did end up in the hospital, one was probably stress related and another for an operation which cause him to have problems down there. Bad karma is on his side I'm guessing. Anyway, I was wondering what happened to your old laptop? I know you are required to have one before going into the architecture program. I know making copies cost and all the materials for projects. I had to spend for all those things. Do you have families who can help you? Ask for some financial help and to ease their mind and to guarantee that you'll pay them back when you become successful have it all in writing. If you want inspiration watch the movie Pursuit of Happyness. He never neglected his child even while pursuing his dream You know if you work hard and as long as you do it through kindness you will be rewarded. Good Luck To You......I just hope you're not Vladimir

TashaC

Hi caj56k, am also studying architecture... have you considered buying a larger format printer? I know u said you wanted a laptop to show your work in progress, but at some point you'll still need to print! I know printers are expensive, but maybe you could split the cost with a few other students? Did you work whilst studying for your part 1? If so how did you find that?

caj56k

Idiophreak - Thanks for the information on the professional studies loan! that is exactly the sort of thing i was hoping to find. unfortunatley my bank (barclays) dont do it but i am sending off for a brochure from hsbc and if needs be will swap banks in order to take advantage of this. lol, one of the student account overdrafts i had before was an hsbc. if only i'd known then i may have kept it open - at least i paid it off soon after starting work.

Blacksheep1979 - i have paid all the overdrafts off apart from my long serving bank account with barclays of which i still go into the overdraft. i had to get paying them off as they were no longer offering me intrest free overdrafts and hadnt been for a while and were constantly chasing me up towards the end so i took it upon myself in the first few months of work to basically put my whole pay cheque into paying each one of one at a time. god knows how i did it but its done - esp going into further study in september i couldnt afford the repayments with no income for the next two years so it was a good job i did :S

The One Who - thanks for the advice. buying a high spec laptop is something i will look into actually. it just depends really what prices i come across and what combo may suit. i have thought about taking another year out but the course is already 7 years and there are numerous cases of ppl taking one year out, then another, and as they become used to the constant income and get older, they r put off by going back to student life. i guess its more of a personal thing that i think ive just gotta knuckle down and get it done just so i can draw a line under it and get on with my life

Shivster - intersting points, thanks man! i have got the access to learning fund before and may try to do so again, although i dont think i will get it this year because i have been working all year (although worth a try). in which case i will have to wait to the end of the year to be offered it again (in my expereince of applying for it in the undergraduate study, they are so much more likely to give you help at the end of the year as they have money they have to get rid of from the governement or otherwise just give it back)

i will take a look at this grants directory tho, sounds very interesting thankyou!

Ian30 - thanks for the reply. the hospital conditions you name are very sound very similar to what my friend has gone thru - it can be so stressful the course it really can (why oh why am i doing it again lol). to answer your questions, i didnt hav an old laptop, just an old computer. unfortunately i have no family that can help. my immediate family struggle to get by as it is without support in some way - government funds and bank loans everywhere. i hope once i am qualified however i can break the cycle and help them out also. i just need to get thru these next two years. thanks for your help anyway and good to speak to someone with first hand exp of what the financial difficulties r like, all the best (ps great film, one of me faves)

TashaC - i have a friend who has an old a3 printer which we used for the first few years (great investment) altho it still costs alot if u wanna use it 3 times a week say for a few pages for every studio outing. the added bonus of even a cheap lappy is that once the studio is running, u can be waiting for hours sometimes. time u could b working all the deadlines u gotta meet. i didnt work during study (nothing substantial anyway) i cudnt have done it and got the grade that i got. i had to put the fnancial leverage it wudve given me on hold and concentrate on why i came to uni - to get a qualification. it was very important to me, and i have no doubt it was the right decision as ive seen ppl doing both and dropping out, getting too stressed and it having a medical impact, or just scraping thru. i have worked in my 4th year and have been very lucky with the placement i got (mainly due to my grade and them offering me a place late on) i have loved every second of it and will actually miss it, esp when i now go back to studying full time, and it is full time as u will know. i wish u all the best in completing your course! hope u get the grade u want