I am 19 years old currently studying at L3 qualification at my local FE college. Currently the law sates that all people under age 19 on August 31st (last day of each academic year) are entitled for there course/study program to be given free of charge E.G a person who is 18 at start of the academic year enrolls onto a two year course, they won’t pay for it even though they will be 20 when it ends. The reason the government allows this is because they realise that for whatever reason not all young people can or able to get a good enough qualification within 2 years and that they should be given the opportunity to get all the qualifications that they need, without haveing to worry about finance . So why is it that a lot of student benefits end at age 17 or 18, Considering that child benefits now last until 20 if in college.
I know 18 is when you become legally an adult, but that doesn’t mean that your finance automatically changes. AIBU to think that all college students should be treated the same in financial terms.
There can be many reasons why there are 18+ students still in Sixth Form/FE College:
- Most common reason, A-levels and most level 3 diplomas last 2 years. students are 16 when they leave school and move to college, therefore it is very likely that a student will turn 18 at some point during the second year. Some people argue, at that point it becomes a choice and it is the students choice to be there. Whilst that is true, in hindsight if a student wants to go to uni/train for a specialist job, 9/10 times they will need AS/Level 3 qualification from college, therefore they will need to say on at college to achieve this.
- A student may have health (physical or/and Mental) that requires them to take so much time off they are required to resit the year.
- Some students decided to change qualification that they are studying E.G. A-levels to Level 3 diploma or vice-a- versa.
- Some students, for whatever reason don’t do as well in their GCSEs as hoped, therefore are required to undertake a foundation/Level 2 qualification.
I personally think it is unfair how two students, who are studying the same qualifications, at the same time, should be financially treated different just because one is born in September and the other July.
Sorry but just my point of view, what do others think. AIBU or Not? Xx
I fall into this category as my mental health was so bad last year.
I was required to drop out and start again next ye