I feel this topic needs to be revived.
I undertook study in 2001-2002, and now as an over 25 (mature/independant student), I want to give University another try in 2009/10. I didnt get a degree before. I left Uni after deciding the course was not for me.
Now I want to return. They work it out as follows - length of degree you want to take, plus one extra year.
Mine is a 4 yr Pharmacy + 1 year = 5 years.
Minus years already studied. Partial years are counted as a whole. In my case 2 years.
5-2 = 3 years of support remaining. This is shorter than my chosen degree.
So in year one of my degree this year, I am ineligiable for Fee Loan or Maintence Grant. Luckily I have savings to pay my fees or I'd be in a real mess! The Govenment system seems to discourage mature students who've had previous study from trying again later in life. So people like myself have needed to delay their entry for an extra year to work double time and save up the money for fees alone.
However, I can still get the Maintence LOAN. I can also still apply for the University Bursary.
As someone from a low-income family (I'll be earning just 2K a year working while studying), I find it rather harsh that the Govenment deducts aid later in life based on mistakes you made as a teen to young adult. Since I first left Uni I have worked and paid taxes, never claimed benefits, always earning less than 12k a year, not married, no kids! If it weren't for careful savings, there would be no hope for mature students coming from low-income backgrounds who have made mistakes picking the wrong degree in the past.
I'll be living at home with my mother to try and make ends meet; bless her heart she is taking on so much of my burden so I can go back to University and try and improve my life. Hopefully an improved pay can benefit her as much as me <3