To get a student loan at 40?

[NannyMcfanny]

It's been a long time since posting on here, but here goes..

I'm 40 with 2dc, one dependant and one over 18.

I've been feeling a bit down about my life and lack of prospects and sick of always being skint.
I have been thinking a real education would be my next step.

I'd love to do a design degree, I am a knitter, crocheter, I sew, make cards, make clay ornaments and other things.

I am good at designing my own things and think I have a good eye for colour and detail etc.
I have also made things for craft fairs, this has never made me much money, the only way to make money from this is ( I think ) to get a degree and look for employment from there.

The problem is I don't know where to start, I have been on the gov website and done a calculator based on our income and I may get my fees paid for plus £8000 per year for living costs.

This is more than what I earn atm so I would be okay with my partner's income.

Can anyone offer ANY advice, tips and words of encouragement? Also are there any reasons I couldn't do this?

I am scared to take the plunge but then I desperately want to move away from my current soul destroying jobs.

Where do I go from here?

TIA

The course I'm looking at claims to have high employability success rate.

I'm not interested in fashion.
The course explores embroidery, knitting, weaving etc. So I'd be interested in designing patterns perhaps.

I have a degree in textile design from one of the best art schools in the country.

I'm bloody talented.

Reality for textile design is that there are no jobs. You need to create your own employment.

I would say 95% of the people I'm my year are not employed directly as textile designers now.

It is cut throat. It isn't easy. It isn't crafty knitting. I would HEARTILY recommend looking at the reality of a career post degree before investing your time and money.

My experience/education is pattern design.

If your aim is to make money from your work I would recommend doing a more business/marketing short course.

In my experience design courses are not the best route to equip someone in the basics, sourcing/selling/marketing etc.

And pattern design is "fashion". It isn't making clothes, it could be interiors/other. but it is part of the industry, it is all about creating a product/trends.

One point which you haven’t asked about but I will raise just in case is whether the course involves using specialist IT? A friend who is highly qualified in interior design went back to do a masters and dropped out because she found the IT aspect so difficult to master.

Okay, some good points to consider, thank you!