mature students and full time uni...

does anyone know when you can apply to student finance?

ive completed my UCAS so wanted to know / find out what I would be entitled to

thanks

You will be entitled to student loans if you haven't used them before. I live of the bare minimum (£3564 per year) and this covers my rent (I live in Newcastle- it's very cheap!) But I have found work over the summer months, done flexible work around my course and I had money from work before I started. (And there's always a student overdraft- not ideal but it's there!)
I'm not a mature student as I started at 20 but I know several people that are. Computer science has rather a lot!
It's much easier to secure odd-jobs around your degree and in holiday periods when you're competing against other students, as most of them have done two weeks work experience and that's it!
If you're worried about living with a load of young people, halls here I believe allow you to live with post grads or you can always go straight into a student house (it's generally cheaper anyway).
I can't see it being much different from being any other skint student and most Uni's offer a lot of support to mature students and you certainly wouldn't be alone!

Woke up yesterday morning to an unconditional offer from Northampton Uni to study law. Not bad me thinks considering I will be 34 this year, working full time and running a business and my partner due to have a baby in October............. I must be mad

Good luck with your choices

1. Will I have to go to Uni every day...need to consider transport costs.

2. Could I get a student loan for a 1 yr post grad course?

3. £40k debt mentioned for 3 yr degree...how much debt will I have for 1 year course?

4. Am I mad to consider it?

I have to give up work because the course requires work placements.

I just feel this is my final chance as my current job is very insecure at the moment...chance to follow a dream.

Thanks
Elaine853

I am afraid I do not, not without loans. Unless you have a well stuffed savings account, or can sell property or similar. The only option that would enable you to work full time to earn the required amount is the OU, and then a three year degree at 120 credits per year is something not many can do and even fewer do and get good honours.

IMHO full time at brick, with full time job inc nights = disaster, (excepting the summer break)

We are ex OU students (whilst working) and we are "going brick" from next September / October. We do have an approach which is, to take every loan and grant we are elligable for and to down size our house (now two of the four kids have fledged) down a house price gradient between the South and North. We will not work as we intend to be totally emersed in two things, firstly our course, ensuring we can go onto postgrad, secondly some of the societies at our two Unis, (well Ok and the kids of course). Hence we are doing a partial liquidation of assets and partial consumption of war chest, in order to pursue our life long desire as far as we can take it.

There is no "silver bullet".

I know some one who went full time at De montford, had a job which involved nights, often turned up at lectures straight from work still in uniform, got a pass, not even 3rd class in Business Studies. Works as a carer in a sheltered hostle, nothing wrong with that, in fact he enjoys it enormously, but it was not plan A when he started his degree.

Your position on studying sounds tailor made for the Open University, one could argue that individuals such as your self are its raison d'etre. However, an OU degree in 3 years is the same as a full time course at a brick Uni in terms of hours.

You can of course study with a brick uni part time or distance learning, have you considered those options.

But you want to:

a) Study full time. (To get the degree in 3 years ?)
b) Get at least a 2.1. (As thats what employers require)
c) Feed and cloth yourself for three years
d) House yourself for three years
e) Pay your tuition fees.
f) not leverage the loan system
g) Earn around a minimum of 17K p.a more likely 20K pa working whilst achieving a) and b) and to realise c) to f)


I would book in for a reality check. Sure, someone on here will tell you they have done it, it is the internet, but how many have tried and not managed it ?

That said, if you find away of doing this then please keep us all informed as there are about 20,000 mature students all dying to know the answer.

I am in the same position - I am a mature single male, I have been offered a place unconditionally by my chosen university due to my experience in the field and my work I've done by myself, so basically they chewed my arm off to get me. The only issue is I have a financial commitment to my flat which I live in with someone else (who relies on my income to pay rent as we split everything 50/50). I've applied for every loan I may be eligible for and also it might be worth you looking in to the Access to Learning funding that universities apparently offer some mature students. It does need to be paid back but again, I'm determined to do this degree as the university clearly wants me.

I understand how hard it is because despite the grants, the loans, and the extra funding, I don't see how I can pay my rent and bills without working a FT job. I think working PT nights and weekends might be the only way I could even do this. Failing that I will have to withdraw from the course which I will not be happy about, to put it as mildly as I can.

At some point you will have to borrow money for something and there is no better way than a student loan

Absolute rubbish! I will soon be 33 and have never borrowed any money in my life. If I can't afford something then I don't have it. I don't even have a credit card. This also applies to my parents who never even took out a mortgage. They managed to save enough capital to buy something outright. Their first house that they bought was really small and run down with no heating. As things improved they moved onto bigger and better things, but never ever borrowed money. It's called learning to live within your means. The problem is people want things too quickly and easily these days. If you really want something then save for it. If more people took this attitude then the country may not be in such a mess.

As for student work why not consider Taxi driving? When I was doing my first degree I did the Taxi driving and knowledge test and worked Friday and Saturday night and early mornings. Just on a Saturday or Sunday night you can bring in £250 each night. Also I had one contract job from 5 - 8 am every morning. Just that one job bought in 20k per year. I managed to live quite comfortably while my peers were struggling doing crappy low paid bar work etc. You just have to think outside the box.

Hi Marada

Do you mind if I ask? What did you do for three hours every morning that brought in 20k a year? You are obviously a very sorted individual!