Advise needed about funding for a second time student

S.Sousa1993

Hello guys. :smile:

I'm hoping someone can help me out with my uncertainty about this topic.
I went to Uni three years ago - studied at Salford, doing Visual Arts. Didn't enjoy it academically at all.
I was so young and felt afraid to leave because I didn't have the confidence to figure something out. :confused:

I developed as a person and became engaged with fitness for the last two years of Uni.
This gave me so much joy and I've been passionate about it since I was younger but never thought I could do it professionally.
I decided to become a personal trainer once I'd leave uni.
I didn't pass the course at all - didn't even get a HE certificate or anything. I practically have no degree at all.
I am a personal trainer now and absolutely adore my job however I'd like to return to Uni again to go into nutrition since I am also fond of that.
my situation is that I don't have maths because I've always failed and got diagnosed with dyspraxia late in my second year of uni.
I'd like to know if anyone can help me with how to apply for SFA and get through the UCAS application while also guiding me in where to get a reference from for UCAS.
This is a long post I know - so I appreciate anyone who can sit through and read this!
I think it could happen again since I don't have a degree at all, so wouldn't that make it into another first time applicant?
I appreciate the replies, so thank you!

Reply 1

Tanqueray91

22

Original post by S.Sousa1993

Hello guys. :smile:

I'm hoping someone can help me out with my uncertainty about this topic.
I went to Uni three years ago - studied at Salford, doing Visual Arts. Didn't enjoy it academically at all.
I was so young and felt afraid to leave because I didn't have the confidence to figure something out. :confused:

I developed as a person and became engaged with fitness for the last two years of Uni.
This gave me so much joy and I've been passionate about it since I was younger but never thought I could do it professionally.
I decided to become a personal trainer once I'd leave uni.
I didn't pass the course at all - didn't even get a HE certificate or anything. I practically have no degree at all.
I am a personal trainer now and absolutely adore my job however I'd like to return to Uni again to go into nutrition since I am also fond of that.
my situation is that I don't have maths because I've always failed and got diagnosed with dyspraxia late in my second year of uni.
I'd like to know if anyone can help me with how to apply for SFA and get through the UCAS application while also guiding me in where to get a reference from for UCAS.
This is a long post I know - so I appreciate anyone who can sit through and read this!
I think it could happen again since I don't have a degree at all, so wouldn't that make it into another first time applicant?
I appreciate the replies, so thank you!

Hi, I've moved this over to the UCAS forum so you can get some better help here!

Reply 2

S.Sousa1993

OP

Hello there.
Aaaw that's amazing!
Thank you so much! - how am I able to know when someone responds to me?

Reply 3

Origami Bullets

19

Original post by S.Sousa1993

Hello guys. :smile:

I'm hoping someone can help me out with my uncertainty about this topic.
I went to Uni three years ago - studied at Salford, doing Visual Arts. Didn't enjoy it academically at all.
I was so young and felt afraid to leave because I didn't have the confidence to figure something out. :confused:

I developed as a person and became engaged with fitness for the last two years of Uni.
This gave me so much joy and I've been passionate about it since I was younger but never thought I could do it professionally.
I decided to become a personal trainer once I'd leave uni.
I didn't pass the course at all - didn't even get a HE certificate or anything. I practically have no degree at all.
I am a personal trainer now and absolutely adore my job however I'd like to return to Uni again to go into nutrition since I am also fond of that.
my situation is that I don't have maths because I've always failed and got diagnosed with dyspraxia late in my second year of uni.
I'd like to know if anyone can help me with how to apply for SFA and get through the UCAS application while also guiding me in where to get a reference from for UCAS.
This is a long post I know - so I appreciate anyone who can sit through and read this!
I think it could happen again since I don't have a degree at all, so wouldn't that make it into another first time applicant?
I appreciate the replies, so thank you!

The way student finance works in your situation is that you can get:
Funding for every year of your new course
PLUS one 'gift' year
MINUS any previous years of student finance you've received.

If you've already been at uni for 3 years and wanted to start from scratch on a new three year degree, you'd be eligible for one year of student finance. This year will be the final year, so you'd have to fund the first two years yourself - both tuition fees and living expenses.

If this isn't feasible for you, you could consider doing a part time degree, either at a local uni or via the Open Uni (distance learning) which might make the cost more manageable for you.

Whilst you're deciding what to do, I'd suggest going back to college to get your maths GCSE or equivalent - there will be maths involved in a nutrition degree and it will likely be a part of the entry requirements (and it will be useful in life in general!)

Reply 4

S.Sousa1993

OP

Thanks for your comment.
The thing is I don't have a degree at all - I failed that one and got nothing out of it and most of it was due to medical circumstances.
I'm aware that the cost is £9000 a year - but that doesn't bother me because at least I;ll be in the place I want to be.
Oh yes there will be maths involved indeed, it's just that I've never got the support that I needed because of my medical condition.
What is a one gift year?

Reply 5

Carnationlilyrose

18

Original post by S.Sousa1993

Thanks for your comment.
The thing is I don't have a degree at all - I failed that one and got nothing out of it and most of it was due to medical circumstances.
I'm aware that the cost is £9000 a year - but that doesn't bother me because at least I;ll be in the place I want to be.
Oh yes there will be maths involved indeed, it's just that I've never got the support that I needed because of my medical condition.
What is a one gift year?

The formula is length of course plus one extra year (a year for messing things up, basically. A gift year) minus the number of years already funded. If you did one year at university and then dropped out, you will be eligible for 3 years of funding. If you had more than one year's funding, then you won't get all three years. That means you will have to pay up front all the costs for your first year, including fees.

Reply 6

S.Sousa1993

OP

Hmm, doesn't sound so good.
Thank you for this information, I'll have to see what I can do .

Reply 7

jelly1000

21

Original post by S.Sousa1993

Hmm, doesn't sound so good.
Thank you for this information, I'll have to see what I can do .

if you have medical evidence of why you dropped out then you can get some of your funding entitlement back

Reply 8

SnooFnoo

10

You did 3 years at uni funded by student finance. Whether you got a degree or not is irrelevant. They still funded you.

If you wanted to do a nutrition degree you'd have to fully fund years 1 and 2 and student finance would fund the third and final year.

The alternative is you do nutrition and dietetics degree- this is funded by the nhs and thus you wouldn't pay any fees, and you'd get some bursaries/grants and a reduced student loan for living.

This is a competitive course though, is 4 years long, requires you to do clinical years in hospitals also. However you'd be a registered dietetician which is worth a lot more than simply having a degree in nutrition.

You will definitely need maths.

Isn't dyspraxia do with motor co-ordination and therefore wouldn't affect your mathematical abilities?

Reply 9

S.Sousa1993

OP

I don't know how I can do that to be honest.
Ah, I don't know what I'm going to do now.

Reply 10

SnooFnoo

10

Original post by S.Sousa1993

I don't know how I can do that to be honest.
Ah, I don't know what I'm going to do now.

What I would do is:

1) do an HE access course/gcse maths
2) do dietetics and nutrition

Funding isn't an issue this way, and you get a much more respected degree. It's difficult though.

Reply 11

S.Sousa1993

OP

Thanks for your commenct SnooFnoo (creative name)
I had in mind to retake my maths and aim for that grade to get me through, but how could I possibly do a dietics and nutrition course?
I know it isn't easy!

Reply 12

SnooFnoo

10

Original post by S.Sousa1993

Thanks for your commenct SnooFnoo (creative name)
I had in mind to retake my maths and aim for that grade to get me through, but how could I possibly do a dietics and nutrition course?
I know it isn't easy!

Entry requirements are similar to nutrition :-) so if you were aiming for a nutrition course then you can aim for dietetics and nutrition too. :-))

Reply 13

jelly1000

21

Original post by SnooFnoo

You did 3 years at uni funded by student finance. Whether you got a degree or not is irrelevant. They still funded you.

If you wanted to do a nutrition degree you'd have to fully fund years 1 and 2 and student finance would fund the third and final year.

The alternative is you do nutrition and dietetics degree- this is funded by the nhs and thus you wouldn't pay any fees, and you'd get some bursaries/grants and a reduced student loan for living.

This is a competitive course though, is 4 years long, requires you to do clinical years in hospitals also. However you'd be a registered dietetician which is worth a lot more than simply having a degree in nutrition.

You will definitely need maths.

Isn't dyspraxia do with motor co-ordination and therefore wouldn't affect your mathematical abilities?

Dyspraxia effects non verbal reasoning and shape and space

Reply 14

SnooFnoo

10

Original post by jelly1000

Dyspraxia effects non verbal reasoning and shape and space

So would it affect Mathematical ability? Surely that's dyscalculia?

Reply 15

S.Sousa1993

OP

Alright, thanks for all the valuable information here.
Snooboo - you've mentioned something really ininteresting.
If I were to take that NHS option, how would I proceed to investigate it further?
And I think you will all agree that the maths is vital - I know that myself and that's what makes it a little scarier for me however I'd still like to get the help I need and then that's it - maths is done and it will all be about the practise of calculation! :smile:

Does anyone have any opinions whether the NHS funding/ education would be a good one to go to?

Reply 16

SnooFnoo

10

Original post by S.Sousa1993

Alright, thanks for all the valuable information here.
Snooboo - you've mentioned something really ininteresting.
If I were to take that NHS option, how would I proceed to investigate it further?
And I think you will all agree that the maths is vital - I know that myself and that's what makes it a little scarier for me however I'd still like to get the help I need and then that's it - maths is done and it will all be about the practise of calculation! :smile:

Does anyone have any opinions whether the NHS funding/ education would be a good one to go to?

You apply in the normal way through ucas :-) when you get your offer you apply for nhs funding through the nhs funding/busary website AND student finance england (if you want the reduced maintenance loan-it's optional) and boom all done!

Nutrition and dietetics is a MUCH more respected degree than nutrition. Nutrition is a pile of balls really. As a dietitian you are a regulated healthcare giver and thus your advice is solid, a nutritionist is NOT regulated by any healthcare body, and thus their advice can be questionable at times.

If you were to combine your fitness training and dietetics you could charge ALOT more for sessions or even run your own dietetics clinic in some of the high end gyms.

Look at the third space gym in soho-they have resident dietitians :-)

And if you really want you can work as a dietitian in hospital, or specialise in sport nutritoon etc

As you are regulated by the healthcare commission you have to keep a portfolio of work you do/courses you go on through out your career as they will check up on you to make sure the diet/nutrition advice your giving is accurate

It's a great option!

Reply 17

S.Sousa1993

OP

Wow, well this sounds all good!
I never knew about SOHO having registered dieticians, that's interesting.
Alright, so, I'm not sure if I should get my maths and possibly science this year and then I can apply for this next year so that I start in 2016.
I'd like to get more experience in my job role, it'd be great to start this September, I would like to try if I can manage to find the time to get those two qualifications, then work from there.
either way it's nice to know that I could do that!
And you're right - being a dietician is exactly what I'd like to do, I assumed that going to Uni for nutrition would be a great step and I know that they do a placement year as well.
Either way, it's still down that path and helping people - that's what I want!
would I be able to get some help regarding disability support?

And for those who are curious about the connection between dyspraxia and maths, feel free to read this:

How does dyspraxia affect numeracy?

a whirlpool of numbersEveryone who has dyspraxia is unique. Remember that the difficulties you have may not be the same as someone else, and the strategies that they use may not suit you as well.

If you have dyspraxia it means that you are likely to have some difficulty with the skills needed for calculating and using numbers, and for using maths in everyday life. difficulties You may have difficulties with:
Memorising, for example, multiplication tables;
Learning or applying rules;
Sequencing, for example, remembering the order in which things should be done;
Copying from the board;
Copying quickly and correctly;
Handwriting;
Self organisation and planning.

Reference:
http://qatrain4students.org/GB/resources/skill_disability/numeracy-and-dyspraxia.html

Reply 18

SnooFnoo

10

Original post by S.Sousa1993

Wow, well this sounds all good!
I never knew about SOHO having registered dieticians, that's interesting.
Alright, so, I'm not sure if I should get my maths and possibly science this year and then I can apply for this next year so that I start in 2016.
I'd like to get more experience in my job role, it'd be great to start this September, I would like to try if I can manage to find the time to get those two qualifications, then work from there.
either way it's nice to know that I could do that!
And you're right - being a dietician is exactly what I'd like to do, I assumed that going to Uni for nutrition would be a great step and I know that they do a placement year as well.
Either way, it's still down that path and helping people - that's what I want!
would I be able to get some help regarding disability support?

And for those who are curious about the connection between dyspraxia and maths, feel free to read this:

How does dyspraxia affect numeracy?

a whirlpool of numbersEveryone who has dyspraxia is unique. Remember that the difficulties you have may not be the same as someone else, and the strategies that they use may not suit you as well.

If you have dyspraxia it means that you are likely to have some difficulty with the skills needed for calculating and using numbers, and for using maths in everyday life. difficulties You may have difficulties with:
Memorising, for example, multiplication tables;
Learning or applying rules;
Sequencing, for example, remembering the order in which things should be done;
Copying from the board;
Copying quickly and correctly;
Handwriting;
Self organisation and planning.

Reference:
http://qatrain4students.org/GB/resources/skill_disability/numeracy-and-dyspraxia.html

The gym with dieticians in soho is called " the third space".... not soho gyms (which is another franchise of gyms in London)

And yes you can still get disability learning allowance/support.

The easiest route to do this would be to do an access to higher education course. They're a year long full time, but some colleges do evening classes and they give you re necessary requirements to apply for nutrtion and dietetics. You would have to apply this September for 2016 entry. Applications are closed for this year.

Good luck!

Reply 19

S.Sousa1993

OP

Aah right okay.
well that's a great thing to include, then you get results from the inside out!
And that's good too - it helps to have that side by side :smile:

you are right indeed.
I've been searching online for these past two hours and I've found everything I need to satisfy the requirements.
Looks like I won't be able to do that access course this year however that is no problem at all!
I've decided to take my maths this year then go onto the access course next year.
It says something like it's 12 hours a week or so. If that's the case then it's great because I can still work part time :smile:

I feel so much better now that I know what I need to get this opportunity in place!
Thanks a huge bunch for your help and pointing me to the right direction :smile:

Advise needed about funding for a second time student

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