ELQ Confusion and help needed
Hi,
My situation is quite complicated, as I feel I have been previously ill advised.
I do not have an undergraduate degree or similar, but in 2006 I decided to take a night class being offered by a local college (now uni). It was relatively inexpensive and they offered monthly payments, and was one evening a week, so felt very doable with 2 small kids.
The evening course was described as a pgDip/Masters depending on whether you did 2 years or 3, but unlike other masters programmes it did not require prior quals/ experience, and no one ever mentioned anything about student finance being an option for it, so I did not even consider looking into it that way.
I do recall talking to the the tutor at the time about wanting to do a degree, and her telling me that some people had indeed done this course first and then gone on to do their degree after - so I thought okay well that's good then. Maybe this will help me get on a degree.
After the first year of this course I had to take a break due to becoming pregnant and being very unwell during my pregnancy. I tried to return the following year to continue the 2nd year, but unfortunately my Dad then passed away, we hit financial issues, and then my partner had to go to work abroad leaving me to look after 3 children under 5 and by myself. Needless to say I withdrew from the course without completing either of the exit options listed, for reasons that I understand now would be considered 'compelling reasons' in terms of SF.
I never thought about this course again until years later when I applied for a foundation degree. They asked whether I had ever studied higher than the BTEC qualification I had, and this was the first time I had become aware of the Levels system - honestly I was clueless! I mentioned the one year I had done at previously.
Off the back of that I was declined student finance. I called them up and had a big discussion with, I think an assessor? I explained more about the course, being only one evening a week, not requiring prior undergraduate qualifications or a degree, not finishing etc, and I distinctly remember the person at the end of the phone saying it doesn't sound like it was a proper post graduate then - to which i replied that I thought it was but maybe I was wrong then.
I assume they then went off and looked into into it further as soon after they overturned their decision and I was awarded a tuition and maintenance loan, so I thought obviously that course did not count after all.
Unfortunately by term 2 my partner left for someone he had been having an affair with, leaving me again with 3 small children, a night job that I had to quit for obvious reasons, and as he also refused to pay child maintenance of any kind for well over a year after I could not afford our rent/ bills, and we were eventually made homeless. Obviously I had to withdraw from the FDA, but unfortunately it was not put down by the college as being for compelling reasons - again I still did not know that was a thing - so I lost a years funding for the sake of having taken 1 term.
Fast forward to when the kids were older, I decided to try again and registered on a different FDA. When trying to get advice at various stages from SF, I was told looking at my record that I had 3 years funding left. With this information and believing that the p-grad study had been looked at prior and deemed not applicable to my eligibility by SF, I did not include it in any applications again as I thought it did not count - also believing that because it had been previously declared and on my record that if it was an issue they would say so. I had also been told time and time again by SF advisors that undergraduate funding is separate from PG funding, and that PGCE is another separate funding stream etc etc, so again I thought it was not applicable.
I was awarded finance for the new FDA, including DSA for a health issues I now had. I completed yr 1/level 4, but unfortunately had to repeat the 2nd year due to worsening health issues and the sudden decline of both my Mum and Step Dad meaning I had to also care for them. I was able to get an additional years funding to repeat yr 2 because of evidencing these extenuating circumstances, but again I did not pass all units due a further decline with my health, leaving me 40 credits short of a complete FDA . I have subsequently found out I had been misdiagnosed for the last 8 years, and I actually have Multiple Sclerosis, which is why I was getting sicker.
3 years later, I have started to look into my options for completing my FDA and progressing to obtain a full BA degree. Because of the change in my physical strength and overall endurance, particularly within the last year, as well as the unpredictable nature of my illness, (my work history has always been very physical), I have looked extensively into ways I could still earn a living that would accommodate this. I realised I could mentor and tutor in education remotely having received support that way myself, and also having supported my autistic daughters access multiple sources of online tutoring during years of home educating them. But I would need to first complete my study up to degree level., so looked to now do this so that I could get back into work.
I was advised by SF that I only have 1 years full time funding left, which would make that impossible, unless I paid the college to repeat the missing 40 credits myself and saved that year for a top up BA, which I cannot afford to do. However, I was then made aware by another student that I could still do this on a part time basis, which SF advisors confirmed - they said, yes, you still have up to 16 yrs p/t funding available - so I thought great I will study part time.
At this stage I already knew there was no way that I could manage full time anyway, or even reliably and repeatedly attend in person to a place of study, so I looked to see if I could transfer to an online provider on a part time basis. This required me to obtain my transcript of results from college so that I could seek credit exemption and hopefully not have to do an entire full degree in order to get a Bachelors, but continue study upwards of level 5.
It was at this stage that I was again asked by the universities I was enquiring to about any other study that might be relevant, so I mentioned about the so called post grad evening course, not that I thought it was worth anything, I was then told that I might be able to have the modules I did complete in that first p-grad course turned into a pgCert and I should maybe look into it.
I was really surprised by this, but I approached the college I had attended almost 20 years ago, and they looked into it and confirmed I would be eligible for a pgCert, even though I did not complete the course. Stupidly thinking this might help me with credit exemptions, I gladly took it - only to discover it was of no use anyway because it was so old!!
Now, I have just been told by a SF advisor at the uni I have applied to that this pgCert makes me ineligible for funding under ELQ rules. Again I struggle to understand this as I still do not have a first degree, was awarded funding even when it was taken into consideration by SF the first year I applied. I am now wondering if that was only because I did had not gained a qualification from it at the time, but technically speaking almost 20 years later I do now??!!
Has accepting this certificate royally screwed me over and mean I cannot complete my degree? Further more, now I am now petrified that it makes the funding I have received prior a mistake, and that I could be in massive trouble for that, and for not having declared it year on year believing it was an anomalie and had already been disregarded by SF.
As you can tell this has been a really difficult journey for me so far, but I have kept fighting back, desperate to get to a point where I would be able to get somewhere and earn a semi ok living once my kids were older - which they are now. This has been made more challenging since my increase in disability, and the stress of this and anxiety is making it worse.
I am hoping for any advice or help in this situation that might help me move forwards please?
My situation is quite complicated, as I feel I have been previously ill advised.
I do not have an undergraduate degree or similar, but in 2006 I decided to take a night class being offered by a local college (now uni). It was relatively inexpensive and they offered monthly payments, and was one evening a week, so felt very doable with 2 small kids.
The evening course was described as a pgDip/Masters depending on whether you did 2 years or 3, but unlike other masters programmes it did not require prior quals/ experience, and no one ever mentioned anything about student finance being an option for it, so I did not even consider looking into it that way.
I do recall talking to the the tutor at the time about wanting to do a degree, and her telling me that some people had indeed done this course first and then gone on to do their degree after - so I thought okay well that's good then. Maybe this will help me get on a degree.
After the first year of this course I had to take a break due to becoming pregnant and being very unwell during my pregnancy. I tried to return the following year to continue the 2nd year, but unfortunately my Dad then passed away, we hit financial issues, and then my partner had to go to work abroad leaving me to look after 3 children under 5 and by myself. Needless to say I withdrew from the course without completing either of the exit options listed, for reasons that I understand now would be considered 'compelling reasons' in terms of SF.
I never thought about this course again until years later when I applied for a foundation degree. They asked whether I had ever studied higher than the BTEC qualification I had, and this was the first time I had become aware of the Levels system - honestly I was clueless! I mentioned the one year I had done at previously.
Off the back of that I was declined student finance. I called them up and had a big discussion with, I think an assessor? I explained more about the course, being only one evening a week, not requiring prior undergraduate qualifications or a degree, not finishing etc, and I distinctly remember the person at the end of the phone saying it doesn't sound like it was a proper post graduate then - to which i replied that I thought it was but maybe I was wrong then.
I assume they then went off and looked into into it further as soon after they overturned their decision and I was awarded a tuition and maintenance loan, so I thought obviously that course did not count after all.
Unfortunately by term 2 my partner left for someone he had been having an affair with, leaving me again with 3 small children, a night job that I had to quit for obvious reasons, and as he also refused to pay child maintenance of any kind for well over a year after I could not afford our rent/ bills, and we were eventually made homeless. Obviously I had to withdraw from the FDA, but unfortunately it was not put down by the college as being for compelling reasons - again I still did not know that was a thing - so I lost a years funding for the sake of having taken 1 term.
Fast forward to when the kids were older, I decided to try again and registered on a different FDA. When trying to get advice at various stages from SF, I was told looking at my record that I had 3 years funding left. With this information and believing that the p-grad study had been looked at prior and deemed not applicable to my eligibility by SF, I did not include it in any applications again as I thought it did not count - also believing that because it had been previously declared and on my record that if it was an issue they would say so. I had also been told time and time again by SF advisors that undergraduate funding is separate from PG funding, and that PGCE is another separate funding stream etc etc, so again I thought it was not applicable.
I was awarded finance for the new FDA, including DSA for a health issues I now had. I completed yr 1/level 4, but unfortunately had to repeat the 2nd year due to worsening health issues and the sudden decline of both my Mum and Step Dad meaning I had to also care for them. I was able to get an additional years funding to repeat yr 2 because of evidencing these extenuating circumstances, but again I did not pass all units due a further decline with my health, leaving me 40 credits short of a complete FDA . I have subsequently found out I had been misdiagnosed for the last 8 years, and I actually have Multiple Sclerosis, which is why I was getting sicker.
3 years later, I have started to look into my options for completing my FDA and progressing to obtain a full BA degree. Because of the change in my physical strength and overall endurance, particularly within the last year, as well as the unpredictable nature of my illness, (my work history has always been very physical), I have looked extensively into ways I could still earn a living that would accommodate this. I realised I could mentor and tutor in education remotely having received support that way myself, and also having supported my autistic daughters access multiple sources of online tutoring during years of home educating them. But I would need to first complete my study up to degree level., so looked to now do this so that I could get back into work.
I was advised by SF that I only have 1 years full time funding left, which would make that impossible, unless I paid the college to repeat the missing 40 credits myself and saved that year for a top up BA, which I cannot afford to do. However, I was then made aware by another student that I could still do this on a part time basis, which SF advisors confirmed - they said, yes, you still have up to 16 yrs p/t funding available - so I thought great I will study part time.
At this stage I already knew there was no way that I could manage full time anyway, or even reliably and repeatedly attend in person to a place of study, so I looked to see if I could transfer to an online provider on a part time basis. This required me to obtain my transcript of results from college so that I could seek credit exemption and hopefully not have to do an entire full degree in order to get a Bachelors, but continue study upwards of level 5.
It was at this stage that I was again asked by the universities I was enquiring to about any other study that might be relevant, so I mentioned about the so called post grad evening course, not that I thought it was worth anything, I was then told that I might be able to have the modules I did complete in that first p-grad course turned into a pgCert and I should maybe look into it.
I was really surprised by this, but I approached the college I had attended almost 20 years ago, and they looked into it and confirmed I would be eligible for a pgCert, even though I did not complete the course. Stupidly thinking this might help me with credit exemptions, I gladly took it - only to discover it was of no use anyway because it was so old!!
Now, I have just been told by a SF advisor at the uni I have applied to that this pgCert makes me ineligible for funding under ELQ rules. Again I struggle to understand this as I still do not have a first degree, was awarded funding even when it was taken into consideration by SF the first year I applied. I am now wondering if that was only because I did had not gained a qualification from it at the time, but technically speaking almost 20 years later I do now??!!
Has accepting this certificate royally screwed me over and mean I cannot complete my degree? Further more, now I am now petrified that it makes the funding I have received prior a mistake, and that I could be in massive trouble for that, and for not having declared it year on year believing it was an anomalie and had already been disregarded by SF.
As you can tell this has been a really difficult journey for me so far, but I have kept fighting back, desperate to get to a point where I would be able to get somewhere and earn a semi ok living once my kids were older - which they are now. This has been made more challenging since my increase in disability, and the stress of this and anxiety is making it worse.
I am hoping for any advice or help in this situation that might help me move forwards please?
Reply 1
Hi there,
We can help you here. Can you please confirm the following?
Thanks, Clare
We can help you here. Can you please confirm the following?
1.
What is the new course you will be attending- include how many years in length
2.
How many years previous study do you have?
3.
Is the new course full time or part time?
4.
How many years of CPR were you awarded previously?
Reply 2
sbeer21
OP
1
Apologies for the multiple posts - I have been trying to reply to this since yesterday but been getting nothing but error messages, so tried other avenues. The issue finally seems to be resolved however! To answer your questions:
The new course is a BA (Hons) in Visual Communications, part time, distance learning due to my illness. It is 3yrs part time as it is an accelerated programme. (ft study is 2 yrs).
I also have the option to potentially transfer to a different online provider with an equivalent degree but at a higher entry point, as they accept credit transfer, which they are reviewing now to decide which modules they could excuse me from. This is at a slower pace so would likely also take around 3 years part time if I can enter at a higher level.
So far I have had 4 years full time SF, 2 of which were only partial years. One of those years was gifted as an extra year due to CPR. Many thanks for you help
The new course is a BA (Hons) in Visual Communications, part time, distance learning due to my illness. It is 3yrs part time as it is an accelerated programme. (ft study is 2 yrs).
I also have the option to potentially transfer to a different online provider with an equivalent degree but at a higher entry point, as they accept credit transfer, which they are reviewing now to decide which modules they could excuse me from. This is at a slower pace so would likely also take around 3 years part time if I can enter at a higher level.
So far I have had 4 years full time SF, 2 of which were only partial years. One of those years was gifted as an extra year due to CPR. Many thanks for you help
Reply 3
Original post
by sbeer21Apologies for the multiple posts - I have been trying to reply to this since yesterday but been getting nothing but error messages, so tried other avenues. The issue finally seems to be resolved however! To answer your questions:
The new course is a BA (Hons) in Visual Communications, part time, distance learning due to my illness. It is 3yrs part time as it is an accelerated programme. (ft study is 2 yrs).
I also have the option to potentially transfer to a different online provider with an equivalent degree but at a higher entry point, as they accept credit transfer, which they are reviewing now to decide which modules they could excuse me from. This is at a slower pace so would likely also take around 3 years part time if I can enter at a higher level.
So far I have had 4 years full time SF, 2 of which were only partial years. One of those years was gifted as an extra year due to CPR. Many thanks for you help
The new course is a BA (Hons) in Visual Communications, part time, distance learning due to my illness. It is 3yrs part time as it is an accelerated programme. (ft study is 2 yrs).
I also have the option to potentially transfer to a different online provider with an equivalent degree but at a higher entry point, as they accept credit transfer, which they are reviewing now to decide which modules they could excuse me from. This is at a slower pace so would likely also take around 3 years part time if I can enter at a higher level.
So far I have had 4 years full time SF, 2 of which were only partial years. One of those years was gifted as an extra year due to CPR. Many thanks for you help
Hi there,
If you already hold a qualification you need to study higher than what you have to possible get funding from us, unless the new course is an exception course. If you hold a Postgraduate Certificate this would be a level 7 qualification. If you now wish to study a degree this is a level 6, which means its below what qualification you already hold, and would mean you wouldn't be eligible for finance, unless the course is one of our exception courses.
We can check if the new course would be a part time exception. Can you confirm what university you would study this with and roughly when you're hoping to start?
Thanks,
Claire
Reply 4
sbeer21
OP
1
Original post
by Claire SFEHi there,
If you already hold a qualification you need to study higher than what you have to possible get funding from us, unless the new course is an exception course. If you hold a Postgraduate Certificate this would be a level 7 qualification. If you now wish to study a degree this is a level 6, which means its below what qualification you already hold, and would mean you wouldn't be eligible for finance, unless the course is one of our exception courses.
We can check if the new course would be a part time exception. Can you confirm what university you would study this with and roughly when you're hoping to start?
Thanks,
Claire
If you already hold a qualification you need to study higher than what you have to possible get funding from us, unless the new course is an exception course. If you hold a Postgraduate Certificate this would be a level 7 qualification. If you now wish to study a degree this is a level 6, which means its below what qualification you already hold, and would mean you wouldn't be eligible for finance, unless the course is one of our exception courses.
We can check if the new course would be a part time exception. Can you confirm what university you would study this with and roughly when you're hoping to start?
Thanks,
Claire
Hi,
Thanks for your reply.
I know it is not an exception course unfortunately. I just cannot believe that 1 year of 3 hrs a week 18 years ago has now done this! It is a ridiculous situation. I had never imagined that asking for a certificate in January of this year would cause this problem - I assume I had finance granted initially because I had not been given an early exit award when I withdrew from that study, so technically did not hold a qualification until now? Is that correct?
I was hoping being as I am already part way into a degree, that I would have completed by now had it not been for CPR and my disability, there might be some way around what appears to be nothing more than a technicality. Is it possible to appeal under any grounds so that I can finish?
Reply 5
Original post
by sbeer21Hi,
Thanks for your reply.
I know it is not an exception course unfortunately. I just cannot believe that 1 year of 3 hrs a week 18 years ago has now done this! It is a ridiculous situation. I had never imagined that asking for a certificate in January of this year would cause this problem - I assume I had finance granted initially because I had not been given an early exit award when I withdrew from that study, so technically did not hold a qualification until now? Is that correct?
I was hoping being as I am already part way into a degree, that I would have completed by now had it not been for CPR and my disability, there might be some way around what appears to be nothing more than a technicality. Is it possible to appeal under any grounds so that I can finish?
Thanks for your reply.
I know it is not an exception course unfortunately. I just cannot believe that 1 year of 3 hrs a week 18 years ago has now done this! It is a ridiculous situation. I had never imagined that asking for a certificate in January of this year would cause this problem - I assume I had finance granted initially because I had not been given an early exit award when I withdrew from that study, so technically did not hold a qualification until now? Is that correct?
I was hoping being as I am already part way into a degree, that I would have completed by now had it not been for CPR and my disability, there might be some way around what appears to be nothing more than a technicality. Is it possible to appeal under any grounds so that I can finish?
If you hold Postgraduate Certificate and the new course qualification isn't an exception course, then we can't offer the finance. I would suggest speaking to the university you're studying with to see if they know of any alternative funding options they could point you to.
Thanks,
Claire
Reply 6
sbeer21
OP
1
Original post
by Claire SFEIf you hold Postgraduate Certificate and the new course qualification isn't an exception course, then we can't offer the finance. I would suggest speaking to the university you're studying with to see if they know of any alternative funding options they could point you to.
Thanks,
Claire
Thanks,
Claire
Literally one piece of paper that I did not hold until this year, from study done 18 years ago before there was even an ELQ rule in place? And if I had not have requested that piece of paper I would have been fine? Do student finance never make exceptions? This is such an unfair system. There are no other funding options for someone like me. People should be made more aware of this, and universities should be more clued up on it too, especially when they offer higher qualifications to people without a degree. I hope other people read this and get to avoid this situation!
Reply 7
sbeer21
OP
1
Would switching to do an integrated Masters instead even make a difference?
Reply 8
Original post
by sbeer21Would switching to do an integrated Masters instead even make a difference?
If you received the funding and then we found out you held a higher qualification, then the funding would be stopped and you would have an overpayment to repay.
Integrated master's wouldn't be funded, you would need to study a full Postgraduate Mater's or Postgraduate Doctoral to possible get finance.
Thanks,
Claire
Reply 9
sbeer21
OP
1
Original post
by Claire SFEIf you received the funding and then we found out you held a higher qualification, then the funding would be stopped and you would have an overpayment to repay.
Integrated master's wouldn't be funded, you would need to study a full Postgraduate Mater's or Postgraduate Doctoral to possible get finance.
Thanks,
Claire
Integrated master's wouldn't be funded, you would need to study a full Postgraduate Mater's or Postgraduate Doctoral to possible get finance.
Thanks,
Claire
Can I ask - if I was able to fund the fees for an undergraduate degree another way, would I be able to still get a maintenance loan or DSA etc despite the ELQ?
Alternatively, if I changed to an exception course such as BSc Psychology, would funding available for that include maintenance loan/dsa, or would that be a tuition fee loan only?Thanks
Reply 10
Original post
by sbeer21Thanks.
Can I ask - if I was able to fund the fees for an undergraduate degree another way, would I be able to still get a maintenance loan or DSA etc despite the ELQ?
Alternatively, if I changed to an exception course such as BSc Psychology, would funding available for that include maintenance loan/dsa, or would that be a tuition fee loan only?Thanks
Can I ask - if I was able to fund the fees for an undergraduate degree another way, would I be able to still get a maintenance loan or DSA etc despite the ELQ?
Alternatively, if I changed to an exception course such as BSc Psychology, would funding available for that include maintenance loan/dsa, or would that be a tuition fee loan only?Thanks
Hi,
BSc Psychology isn't one of our full time exception courses. It may be part time but not full time. If you decide to study a full time exception course then you should be able to get Tuition Fees and Maintenance Loan if the course is NHS or an Allied Health Professional Course. Other exception courses may be Maintenance Loan only.
You should be able to apply for DSA for an exception course. Nothing is definite till you apply and we can confirm and check the details.
Thanks,
Claire
(edited 1 month ago)
Reply 11
sbeer21
OP
1
Original post
by Claire SFEHi,
BSc Psychology isn't one of our full time exception courses. It may be part time but not full time. If you decide to study a full time exception course then you should be able to get Tuition Fees and Maintenance Loan if the course is NHS or an Allied Health Professional Course. Other exception courses may be Maintenance Loan only.
You should be able to apply for DSA for an exception course. Nothing is definite till you apply and we can confirm and check the details.
Thanks,
Claire
BSc Psychology isn't one of our full time exception courses. It may be part time but not full time. If you decide to study a full time exception course then you should be able to get Tuition Fees and Maintenance Loan if the course is NHS or an Allied Health Professional Course. Other exception courses may be Maintenance Loan only.
You should be able to apply for DSA for an exception course. Nothing is definite till you apply and we can confirm and check the details.
Thanks,
Claire
Thanks - I was looking at part time. I am a little confused though - are you saying BSc psychology part time would only be eligible for maintenance loans?
Reply 12
Hi sbeer21,
Yes you may be eligible for part time support for an in person course as Psychology is treated as an exception to equal level qualification rules part time.
https://www.gov.uk/student-finance/who-qualifies
https://www.gov.uk/student-finance
Thanks, Clare
Yes you may be eligible for part time support for an in person course as Psychology is treated as an exception to equal level qualification rules part time.
https://www.gov.uk/student-finance/who-qualifies
https://www.gov.uk/student-finance
Thanks, Clare
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