to think if you want a new qualification get on benefits!!

[TheFeministParent]

WEll not really but I have just learned a cousin of mine, after leaving her partner and taking her three dcs to live in one of the roughest estates in England (another story), has just started a degree course. As a single parent of three living in a HA house she's allowed govt help to get educated...which is great, we should support people who want to educate themselves out of poverty. However I would love to do a bit of post grad study whilst my dcs are at home (in evenings) but I can't afford it, literally have nowhere to make savings...it will make me more employable following a HUGE break to have dcs.

So why can't I get help? I have as little disposable income as my cousin.

Get a loan then.

No aunty, she shouldn't. She is depriving her children of their father.

but you do get 'funding' (a loan mainly) for degrees - you don't for most postgrads - that's just life

she's not getting something you wouldn't is she?

Can he not visit?

I agree. Help with education should be free to everyone or no one. i wouldn't be entitled to help, but I cartainly can't afford to do the courses I want to do.

There is a difference between being given a grant and getting a student loan, a grant doesn't have to be paid back, ever! A loan does so why should I have to pay that money back when someone on benefits doesn't?

Once again it's the richest and the poorest that benefit from the goverment. Those of us anywhere in the middle lose out.

Thing is though the post grad is loans - but chances are she won't have a loan for this degree - she won't have to pay it back (I certainly don't have to pay back what has so far been paid for the degree I'm doing). I don't know about other "brick" Universities - but certainly with the OU the fee grants you don't have to repay.

Niceguy - - I wasn't expecting that response from you (given your right wing views in general - butI agree - it's a good comparison.

I don't believe this site sometimes...I read post after post about the lazy benefit scroungers, and when someone tries to use education as a means to getting of said benefits thats wrong as well ...ffs I give up

A loan based upon what....the fact I have no job? or income?

usual....NOONE has said people on benefits shouldn't have access to free education...stop getting your knickers in a twist about something that isn't even there.

With the OU you can be studying while working (for undergraduate first degree) and still get a course grant.

perhaps there is good reason why she is depriving him of their father that you are not privvy too??

Masters are not covered by any Government help. If you already have a degree you cannot get help to get a Masters.

Might I suggest you try the Open University?

If she is attending University as opposed to going the OU route she will still get full benefits, however attending Uni will mean she gets no benefits other than HB.

Sorry thats if you take an OU degree you can still get full benefits and the courses are covered for low income and benefit people.

If she attends Uni she does not get full benefits as she is basically not avaialble for work.

I think there's a few different issues.

1. Should postgraduate bursaries be paid to more people than at present?

The OP hasn't explained why she thinks they should, or why if more people did get a bursary, she would be an appropriate candidate.

1. Do single parents not have to pay their fees back via a loan?

Some people are saying they do; some people are saying don't.

1. Should the Op's cousin have relocated?

I don't think any of us can comment, as we don't know the details.

The OP has not given any explanation as to why she should be funded for postgraduate study, and as it is an entirely separate issue to paying fees for undergraduates, I don't understand how the situation of the OP and her cousin are comparable.

I'll take your word for it FP that this woman is an arse. But there is no way to test whether someone is a twat before giving them funding/benefits/housing.

So, while there are many people out there who need and absolutely should get funding to help them out of poverty, while they get that help there will also be some pisstakers and selfish feckers who get that help too.

You can't distinguish between the deserving and the undeserving poor, basically.

I heard that funding for OU students on low incomes has been pulled. My friend's had to cut short her studies for that reason.

MillyR - with regards to no.2 I think it depends on whether it's a part time degree or a full time one (not sure entirely?).

OU is classed as part time - and it's done using course grants - if you're eligible (and using the eligibility checker actually show that you can be earning - what I would class as a decent wage, with dependant children and still get the full course grant.

I have no idea how it works for full time brick university courses.

You might be able to get a career development loan for a Masters, don't think you need to have a job or income currently to do that. Whether it's a good idea depends on how confident you are in getting a job afterwards that will enable you to pay it back.

There definitely is funding for postgrad study, I'm doing a fully funded Masters+PhD, i.e. fees are paid for me and I get a stipend for living costs. It's more difficult for a stand-alone Masters, but there are studentships out there, from the research councils, from charities etc. It's quite competitive though, and you're generally expected to treat your work like a full-time job (as you are getting paid to do it!) so might not be so suitable if you want to just 'do a bit of study in the evenings'. But I do have a friend on the same course who has a young child, so it can be done.

The Government pays for postgraduate study through the Research councils, who select the most exceptional candidates. Obviously there are exceptions to this such as the PGCE.

I think the general principle that poorer students should get financial help for a first degree is a sound one.

OP, have you looked at Professional and Career Development Loans? They're specially designed for adults (ie if you're not eligible for a student loan) who are doing further study to boost their earning power, and you can borrow up to £10K. The government pays the interest on the loan for up to 2 years, so it's effectively interest-free for that period.

I just got one to pay my course fees for retraining, and it's a fairly straightforward procedure.