How do I pay for an access course and degree as a single poor parent?!

[Amandasummers]

I thought this info would be easier to access but it’s not. Is my option literally a student loan? Can you even get them for online/open university courses?

I don’t want claim UC. I want a job. I want to learn. I want a career but it just feels like there’s a brick wall at every hurdle!

It’s over £21K to ger qualified?! That’s impossible for someone like me

Yes you can get student finance for open uni as well as brick uni. Level 3 also. Unsure on other online courses though

Have you looked here:

www.open.ac.uk/courses/fees-and-funding?

(Btw, how old are you? There’s a dedicated Mature Study and Retraining board under Education - but it may not be relevant for you.)

What’s the degree subject and what are the career prospects?

I worked in higher education for 25 years in a subject that was not vocational so though student employment were good they were never as good as the vocational science course my DH dept teaches.

@LucentBlade criminology and sociology with the view of a probation officer…

Look into degree apprenticeship for probation service.
Or
If you got an advanced learner loan for access and completed degree then the original loan is wiped out.

You may not have to! I did an access course and it was paid for, same with university.

I found everything out I needed to know by going to the open evening at the college near me. They had advisors that listened to your situation and told you what course is right for you. Find your local college and ring them up/give them an email!

Also, with the advanced learner loan (used for access course) you don’t need to repay it if you go on to higher education. Of course you then need to pay your student loan back but you could be earning a higher wage by then.

Do an apprenticeship, get student loans or move to Scotland or Wales. But even if

prisonandprobationjobs.gov.uk/prison-officer/apprenticeships/

you get free or reduced tuition fees you will still have living costs. Do you plan to work as well?

@littleowls83

you get free or reduced tuition fees you will still have living costs. Do you plan to work as well?

In England? How?

@littleowls83

Do an apprenticeship, get student loans or move to Scotland or Wales. But even if

Not in Wales. We’re paying tuition fees the same as everyone in England now.

@littleowls83

you get free or reduced tuition fees you will still have living costs. Do you plan to work as well?

I didn’t know anyone could access free tuition any more, apart from in Scotland! Where is this?

In England you get a loan to pay for the access course - it’s the advanced learners loan. As long as you go onto higher education the loan for this is wiped out/you don’t need to pay it.

Only if you complete the degree.

www.gov.uk/advanced-learner-loan

Well yes, you need to then go on and complete the degree. You know that going in, so it’s part of the choice you make.

It is possible to qualify as a Probation Officer while already working for the service. Look for jobs as a Probation Service Officer which is a different grade to start with.