BSc, MSc, and secondary STEM loans

Hello, Hope you're well.

I have a question regarding postgraduate studies, please.

I'm currently utilising the second undergraduate loan that the government offers for part-time STEM subjects. Specifically, I'm studying a BSc with the Open University. Let's say I paused my current qualification, and applied for an MSc with a different institution, using SFE's masters degree loan.

In that scenario, would I then, after my MSc is complete, be able to come back to the Open University and resume my BSc studies, again utilising the second undergraduate loan? Or would getting a postgraduate loan make me ineligible for this?

Apologies for presenting such a highly specific situation, and thank you for your help.

Hi Ed,

What subject would you be studying part time? Does it have any relation to the subject you would be taking in the Masters course?

Thanks, Clare

Hi Clare, thanks for replying.

My situation is rather complicated, so I appreciate your patience:

I already have an SFE-funded undergraduate BA from a different institution, which I received in 2020.

I'm currently studying a part-time BSc in Natural Sciences at the Open University - by the end of this academic year (22-23) I will have completed 180 credits. I'm able to do this because SFE offer a second undergraduate loan if you are completing an eligible part-time STEM course.

Now, ideally, what I'd like to do is claim my most recent 240 credits as an HE Diploma in the subject (the OU have advised me that I can do this without affecting my eligibility for a full BSc qualification). Following this, I would apply to study an MSc in Philosophy (specialising in Philosophy of Physics) at the University of Edinburgh.

So my question is, if I successfully did that, and graduated from Edinburgh with that MSc, would I then be able to get funding to go back the OU and complete my final 120 credits of BSc Natural Sciences study, to graduate from there with a BSc? Or would getting the postgraduate loan for the Edinburgh MSc, disqualify me from getting funding for the remainder of the BSc?

Hi there,

As it is an exception to previous study and equal level qualification rules, therefore you will be eligible for funding if you go back to the course after the masters course.

Thanks, Clare

Perfect, thanks Clare!