Phoe & Gobby - Further Education.

[Amethyst]

and anyone else.

We are considering making a new forum to assist with problems with student loans and financing, rental problems etc.

Within this forum we would also like to do a few pieces about how to finance moving into or returning to further education. where to go for help, what benefits are available in different situations, good methods of learning - ie home study, attending college - and the different help available.

What do you think?

I've mentioned Phoe and Gobby as I know they are currently studying - there are others of you who are so if you feel you would be able to help in anyway please let me know on here, or by pm.

[theGobbyOne]

Re: Phoe & Gobby - Further Education.

I personally wouldnt choose to do an Open University degree as it closes off the doors of student finance........What I can tell you is this..........There are all sorts of finance available in the form of loans and grants and of course discretionary bursaries.............You also get relief with council tax and some housing benefit if you qualify.......For those of you with kids you also get 85% of ALL childcare fees paid in the form of a grant both in uni time and ALL school holidays....For me personally I am sound financially and I cant believe what is on offer to mature students with kids.......They do make it easier for us to return to education........Anything else feel free to ask

[Amethyst]

Re: Phoe & Gobby - Further Education.

Thanks gobs - I shall be hassling you later

[thephoenix]

Re: Phoe & Gobby - Further Education.

I can't comment on full time education but for distance learning ie Open University, many grants are available dependent on individual circumstances.

As an example, I myself am unemployed ( but not unemployable, may I add )

I received the full grant for course fee's totaling £800
A full grant for a computer £250
Full grant for costs towards internet access £140
A full grant for course materials £250

these grants are paid via the Student Services and DO NOT require paying back

Plus the option of further grant to assist those in financial need via the Learning Fund. On top of the usual childcare, travel, special support, maintenance grants obtainable on the scheme.

I myself would recommend the OU for those who find it difficult to get to a University and who are disciplined in time management.

All applications are dealt with on a first come first served and individual basis.

:whoo:

[TUTTSI]

Re: Phoe & Gobby - Further Education.

I can't comment on full time education but for distance learning ie Open University, many grants are available dependent on individual circumstances.

As an example, I myself am unemployed ( but not unemployable, may I add )

I received the full grant for course fee's totaling £800
A full grant for a computer £250
Full grant for costs towards internet access £140
A full grant for course materials £250

these grants are paid via the Student Services and DO NOT require paying back

Plus the option of further grant to assist those in financial need via the Learning Fund. On top of the usual childcare, travel, special support, maintenance grants obtainable on the scheme.

I myself would recommend the OU for those who find it difficult to get to a University and who are disciplined in time management.

All applications are dealt with on a first come first served and individual basis.

:whoo:

Hi Phoenix,

To do an open university course do you need to have A levels or BTEC qualifications and if so what is the critera.

Thanks xxx

[Amethyst]

Re: Phoe & Gobby - Further Education.

I did a few OU courses a while ago and gained a Diploma in Health and Social Welfare. You do need to be very strict on yourself with time management and it is too easy to flounder half way through. I did start two further courses at level 1 but without the pushing of a tutor (I know OU have tutors but they aren't in your face which is what some people need) I dropped out half way through each of them.

There are access and foundation courses available for people without BTECs and ALevels, in the same way there are for normal university entry.

I do have BTEC Highers, but would start at access level again now.

I spent a bit of time yesterday researching and I'm tossing up between OU or Nottingham Trent Uni at the moment. The funding for either way does seem very good, if a little complicated to work out and organise. I think I have decided on a 2 year access course at a local college to gain a place on the professional degree course I want to do at university. If things work out differently - life wise - I will still be able to do a similar degree with the OU.

I'd also get full funding as a lone parent on IS.

That doesnt really answer your question sorry. As far as I know you don't NEED the formal A levels, BTECs to be accepted on a course with OU.


If you're new to undergraduate study

If you're new to study or haven't studied for a while, a 10 point, Level 1 Openings course is a good place to start. It will introduce you to a subject area and help you to develop essential study skills. They take up to 20 weeks and they're fascinating courses in their own right, even if you don't want to take your studies further. If you continue studying, you'll be well prepared for a longer Level 1 course.

[theGobbyOne]

Re: Phoe & Gobby - Further Education.

My uni finance is summat like this:

I get to keep all my tax credits
I get £9000 a year grant for childcare..they pay up to a maximum of £250 a week for 2 kids
I get £2465 adult dependents grant
I get £1000 Higher educatiopn grant
I get £1450 parents learning allowance
I get £4500 maintenance grant
I get £4445 loan
I came off income support to go to uni and was given £500 to buy books
I also applied to the Access to Learning fund and was given a considerable sum of money
In the summer break I am entitled to full housing benefit and coucil tax and income support for 10 weeks as all student finance has to be divided into 42 weeks so we have a 10 week break.
As an old system student I also only pay £1200 a year tuition fees.
So all in all I dont do too bad. The access to learning fund is a government initiative and priority is given to single parents and students with kids....It is there to encourage parents to re enter education.............Hope that answers your question Ame about finances........
Also when housing benefit work out your entitlement to benefit they have to disregard the adults learning allownace the parents allowance and also the first £660 for travel, books etc etc. My rent is £110 a week and i get help to the tune of £71.00 a week and a 25% reduction in council tax but single parents get 100% relief for council tax........If I was doing an OU i would not get ther majority of this and also the uni campus is what makes my degree so much more interesting...Am not knocking phoe but OU is not for me personally. I think the uni experience is great and like Ame i need a kick up the backside to do my work so OU wouldnt suit me.

[Amethyst]

Re: Phoe & Gobby - Further Education.

Access to Learning Fund: extra help if you need it : Directgov - Education and learning

[thephoenix]

Re: Phoe & Gobby - Further Education.

Blimey Rosey, some serious funding going on there nice one.

I believe funding is completely different when you consider FULL TIME higher education compared to the OU which would be part time so more doors are open to you on the funding side of things.

For example, i would of thought it'd be difficult to get full childcare grant when on a part time home study course

Tuttsi, Ame is right in that you don't need any formal or informal qualifications to start at the OU. For all my school day sins, I only walked out with..... lets say not a lot :tape2:. You would normally start of on an introductory course in any chosen subject first, just to get used to studying again.

If your thinking bout it, thats a positive step forward, go for it I say.

What ever you chose or where ever you go to learn, it should benefit you in one way or another. :first::first:

[Amethyst]

Re: Phoe & Gobby - Further Education.

What do you think of having a forum dedicated to these kind of issues, as well as the repayment of student loans etc ?

[theGobbyOne]

Re: Phoe & Gobby - Further Education.

I think its a good idea

[thephoenix]

Re: Phoe & Gobby - Further Education.

I think its a good idea

ditto :first:

[Guest]

Re: Phoe & Gobby - Further Education.

Likewise

[TUTTSI]

Re: Phoe & Gobby - Further Education.

Blimey Rosey, some serious funding going on there nice one.

I believe funding is completely different when you consider FULL TIME higher education compared to the OU which would be part time so more doors are open to you on the funding side of things.

For example, i would of thought it'd be difficult to get full childcare grant when on a part time home study course

Tuttsi, Ame is right in that you don't need any formal or informal qualifications to start at the OU. For all my school day sins, I only walked out with..... lets say not a lot :tape2:. You would normally start of on an introductory course in any chosen subject first, just to get used to studying again.

If your thinking bout it, thats a positive step forward, go for it I say.

What ever you chose or where ever you go to learn, it should benefit you in one way or another. :first::first:

Hi Phoenix, The question was not for me, it was for my daughter she is just finishing a 2 year course at College hopefully with a BTEC diploma and she does not want to go to Uni so I thought she may like to do an open university course if she had enough points. Can you explain how it works.

Thanks

[Amethyst]

Re: Phoe & Gobby - Further Education.

You can carry forward the points from a BTEC to count towards your degree, not sure if stadard diplomas count same as BTEC highers tho.

Basically OU is made up of lots of modules - each worth different amount of points. I did a foundation course which earnt me 60 points, and I was awarded 30 points credit for my BTEC higher cert in business and finance - thus I had 90 points after a year part time study at home toward the 360 I need for a degree. You can select which modules you want, they have to be a certain number at level 1,2 and 3 I think and depending what type of degree she wants to gain she can chose modules to suit. Or she can do a random selection which you can put towards with a BA hons or a Bsc hons depending which side the majority of the modules are.

Goodness that sounds complicated - the OU site explains it a lot better. I think for full time home study she would take 2 or 3 modules a year.

Have a look on their site and get them to send you a prospectus - its pretty easy to understand