Please.... help meeee!

Japanpie

Hello, My names Jamie and I have just been sent my unconditional offer from Solent University. Here is my story…

I applied for the course (internet studies) a week before clearing ended due to personal reasons. So I am quite a bit behind everybody else when it comes to the application process and being in the know with things. I have not had a tutor to ask my questions to as I applied interpedently

Anyway as I said I have just received the course details this morning and it seems they want £1175 for course fees in 7 days. Money which I just don’t have…

I applied two weeks ago to my local lea (Bournemouth) and last Friday received back my documents (p60, birth certif.) saying that they have finished used them. I have a few questions I am wondering members could help with…

(1) I’m wondering maybe how long I might have to wait till I receive my loan?
(2) Is it possible the course fees I have to pay may be reduced? Will I find this out after my lea contacts me?
(3) I was looking into applying for student accounts to use the overdrafts. Will I be able to apply at more than one bank? Say natwest and Lloyds tsb.

Any help would be much appreciated. Thank you

Mattjimf

1) you will probably get your loan mid november, you may get it sooner though
2) Yes it is, i would suggest going along to the finance office of the University and let them know you have applied to your LEA, they should hold off asking for money until they hear from your LEA
3) from what i've read on here it is possible.

mdb99jh

My LEA paid all my tuition fees. I was one of the "lucky" ones from a household with low enough income to quilify, so it does happen.

Good luck and have fun at uni :beer:

Rebecca22

When I was at uni they had something called a hardship loan for people in situations like yours - I started the year the loan structure changed so there were lots of people whose loans were delayed at the start of the year! I think the way it works is that the hardship fund (not sure where it comes from) lends you the money interest freeto pay the tuition fees (and possibly extra for you to live on - not sure), then you pay it back when your loan comes through.

Don't take my word for it because it was a few years ago and many vary from uni to uni, but I'm sure there must be a similar set up in most

jezza1O1

one of the !!!!!! poor things about the loan/fee situation is that you get your loan after the fees are due. Its shocking tbh. In fact that you have to pay fees at all is shocking. As a tax payer I want my taxes to go towards your education and Im sorry that they dont. But hey I didnt vote for Tony...



Anyways, yep apply to the banks and, certainly in my day, they were happy to allow nice big overdrafts. Be careful though, please spend the money wisely and get used to picking up money saving tips from this site ! Sort out a part time job and try to get something lined up for summer so you arent in this position next year.

The uni experience is worth the effort and money even if it doesnt assure you a golden ticket for later life anymore. Make the most of your time and the best experiences will prob be the ones that dont cost any money...

best of luck.

Gem_

In terms of Student Overdrafts you are only supposed to have one.

The way to get arround this is to go to a new bank and open one there and after that go to your existing bank and 'upgrade' your current account into a student one.

You need to do the new bank first as they tend to want more paperwork and will credit check you. Your current bank wont credit check you again but I belive the student status shows up on the credit check to the new bank. I got around £4000 over interest free overdraft this way when I was an undergrad.

I terms of fee payments, just talk to the finance/ fees office. They will let you defer for a few weeks while you get the money together.

Hope that made sense.

smkelb

hi sorry to be the bearer of potentially bad news,but the turn around time on late loan applications is pretty shocking to say the least.
I applied end of july and am still waiting for an answer let alone any sign of any cash.
Also id be pretty suprised if your uni will let you defer payment for that long.Like the others have said though go and talk to your bank and welfare officer at the uni,fingers crossed they will help.But don't expect much you won't be the only one in need so they spread it thinly to begin with.
Im a single mum of two and all i got was £500 from uni as a LOAN!!!That doesn't even cover a months childcare and ive been told by loans comp(LEA) that im looking at at least another 2-3 weeks just for a decision!!!!!
Then a letter to take to my uni to scan then the money 3-5 days after that.
So hold tight cause its going to be a long arduous ride yet.

Chadsman

Congratulations on getting to uni Jamie
It might be worth explaining your circumstances to the uni and asking if you can defer payment of fees until you get some cash 'otherwise you might have to withdraw'.
If the uni thinks they are about to lose out on some cash they may well bend the rules... as far as they are concerned it is better to have the money a few weeks late than not at all.
Best of luck!

flossy_splodge

Hardship funds in most Uni's are NOT loans but are 'gifts' but as already posted earlier, there is much demand and often only a small pot of money to share. You may not have to pay fees at all - if you have some paperwork showing you are waiting assessment show your Uni. I applied late for one of my daughters but our LEA has it all done and dusted and she has her money! In our case, the LEA is brilliant, if you go talk to them - they are not mind readers and can be sympathetic if they realise you had reasons for late application.
As to Student accounts, many banks will tell you, you cannot have more than 1 student account but this is bunkum! It is NOT illegal, they just want to be the one to tie you up for life long membership.!! Apply where you will. My personal opinion would be to apply to a couple simultaneously so you can say in all honesty that you do not already have a student loan (as you won't have unless somewhere gives you an instant decision). If this doesn't work, be upfront, tell a second bank of your choice you already have a student avccount but are not happy and will be using THEIRS for your banking, phasing out the one already in place. You obviously WON'T get two lots of incentives! Also remember that Hardship funds, also access funds are reapportioned EVERY year so you need to apply every year to see if you can get a share of the pot. Getting some money from these funds in ONE year does not mean you can't get some in subsequent years. Also look in local library for local trusts that may be inplace - amazing how few of these are ever tapped into. Good Luck