To consider taking out a loan I might not pay back?

[berrygirlie]

So first off, yes I probably am BU (I know) and I'm not seriously considering this because I know it's shitty.

I'm in full time education right now, which just so happens to amount to about 2 days a week 9:30-2pm most of the time. I'm keen to do a 3 month course starting in January that's an evening course and I could juggle both courses easily enough as this shorter course is only on every Tuesday night.

However, the payment upfront is £125 - if I don't pay it, they can't enroll me properly and there's no payment plan scheme. I'm on a very low income at the mo and I could potentially save it if I absolutely scrimped and scraped it together, but it would be very uncomfortable. However a mate of mine is advising to just take out a student loan - with the issue being I'm disabled and there's not a definite guarantee I'll be able to work in the future and may never get to the income where I'd need to pay it back.

Very keen to do the course and have something to focus on given my area is going into Tier 4 lockdown and I'll be bored to tears without enough to do, but it's tricky given I have essentially no disposable income right now (mostly spent on the vitals).

I'm in Scotland and already getting a bursary due to my low income, but this money is really keeping me afloat at the moment. Desperate times and all that. I probably won't do it but interested in opinions.

I’m sorry but I think to take a place on a course with no intention of paying for it is incredibly bad form.

FWIW I’m tier 4 in Scotland too (south Lanarkshire) and you just need to suck it up.

No, i think education loans should always have to be paid back regardless of employment status. I think it’s wrong people can take the money then never give it back.

I would get a student loan for this if you are eligible to get it (I thought they were much higher). If you don’t do the course, then you definitely won’t get a job (should you wish), if you do the course then you have the option!

I'm not seriously considering this because I know it's shitty.

You're a pretend fraudster.

@TheTrollFairy I would be able to get a student loan if I applied for one, I'm fairly sure - I've spoken about the process to one of my mates and she seemed to find it simple enough (plus I've got education-related people who I can contact for help in applying if I need, e.g. for advice)

@Tessiot

I'm not seriously considering this because I know it's shitty.

You're a pretend fraudster.

Might be a bit thick, but I don't know what this means. Thanks?

What? How is taking out a student loan that you are entitled to fraud? Loads of people won't always earn enough to pay back..

Some people on here need to get a grip it's £125 OP use your judegment

The limits on how/when people pay back student loans are there for a reason - if you never hit them, you never do. That's fine, there's a minimum threshold for a reason and some people won't ever manage to pay back but that doesn't mean you should not be entitled to education imo.

The vast majority of people don’t pay their student loans in full. A significant number never earn enough to pay any often as they become a sahm.
I was bankrupt in my early 20’s as a result of a rogue business partner and my entire loan was written off.

Presumably you fully intend to work as long as your health allows for it? If so, definitely go for it. I dislike people taking student loans with zero intention of ever working and repaying it, but from what you've said, that's not the case here.

Do it, education is never a waste. You may well earn enough at some point to repay and even if you don't the benefit to your mental health could save the state a fortune

@CastleCrasher I've got the desire to work but I've got autism and some mood disorders that really fuck up my day-to-day life, so everything is a bit up in the air at the moment I won't lie.

student loans are for higher education aren't they - not sure you'd qualify - but it's moot really isn't it?

You wouldn't be doing anything wrong.
That's the deal with student loans. There's no moral issue here.

The student loan system allows you, a student, to apply for a loan to be repaid when your income reaches the appropriate amount. It doesn’t tell you what that loan should be spent on. There are many many people who take out a loan who will never reach the income threshold to repay it, you’re not breaking any rules, you’d be using the loan system as it was set up to be used.

@ghostyslovesheets It would be higher education, I'm in college and it would be a course through the college. Sorry might not have been clear enough

£125 for a higher education course?

@ghostyslovesheets Yeah it's a 3 month course

Double check because some course providers won’t let you do two at once if not self funding.

Will the second course be happening again in the future? Giving you time to save?

If you become better skilled/educated you're more likely to be able to work, which is better for you and the economy. For the sake of £125, take out the loan and see where the course takes you. You don't know for a fact that you will never work.

Are you sure you will qualify for the loan for the course? If it’s only £125 then it’s not a full time course, there are certain criteria a course must meet before you would be eligible for a loan for it.

I didn’t think you could get a student loan for a 3 month course?

They’re usually based on courses that are at least 25% of a full time equivalent course, aren’t they? How many modules does it consist of?

@Audreyseyebrows Happening in early Jan, so would give me about a month and a half - I won't be able to do it in 2021 onwards as I'll be moving away from where the college is (and it's a bit niche so I'd struggle to find close enough colleges that support it)

Would you even qualify for a student loan for an evening course?

Can you just take a loan for £125?

Can you research possible bursaries/grants? Many charities exist that will give educational grants but you have to research quite carefully to find the details, maybe your local council may have some info? Or ask at the college.