To say I don't already have a degree to get a student loan?

[Harkonen]

I did a BA in English Lit 1989, but want to retrain as a counsellor. There's a foundation degree at a college near me which would be great. I'm not eligible for a loan from student finance due to having already done a degree 35 years ago. The college I did it at has changed its name. AIBU to say I don't have a degree? How would they ever know? I'm married now with a different name. I am aware this is very illegal and tbh I know already I won't do it as I'm normally very law abiding! I can't afford to do the degree through self funding.

AIBU to commit fraud and steal. Aye. Aye you are.

Do it part time then you'll be eligible.

That would literally be fraud.

You'll make a marvellous counsellor.

Are you thick ? Of course they'll find out 🤣

Surely it’ll be linked to your national insurance number and they’ll know?

Hmmm, wouldn’t they be able to find you from your National Insurance number?

Are you not entitled to a post graduate loan? I got one for my masters...

Possible through your national insurance number. Your first degree would have been government funded back in the day so I'm sure there will be a record of you having done it somewhere.

I'm sure I heard there were proposals to extend student finance to people who already have a degree in the Budget this year - to enable people to do more than one degree if they want to change careers. It wont be in yet though.

It is part time.

A counsellor with no moral compass. Perfect

not a great start to a career in counselling

There's no Masters near me.

Well, I'm not actually going to do it, so more a counsellor who can see things from many angles and doesn't judge.

Whether or not you got caught, it's fraud.

Thanks. Sounds sensible.

Eh? You're only not going to do it because you now know you won't get away with it.

What would she be stealing if she has to pay it all back?

You can legitimately get a student loan for some degrees even if you’ve already got one, but I don’t know if counselling is one of them. I think they’re mainly STEM or healthcare.

As you already have a degree, is there a shorter course you can do for counselling? You say there are no masters courses near you - does this mean a masters is a viable option? If so, it would surely make sense to complete an online masters. Then location isn’t an issue. Why do a whole undergraduate degree if you can achieve what you need with a masters?

As a therapist, I don’t recommend a BA in counselling. It’s common to travel for the MSc - training is SO expensive having the fees mostly covered helps.

She would be accessing finance which she had already been given. You are generally entitled to 4 years of undergraduate finance. She also doesn't have to pay it back - that's dependent on income. Otherwise I'd do a degree in the run up to my retirement just for fun.

Fraud is unreasonable. Also illegal.

Go for it! Then get hit with a whopping great big fine when they catch you out and a criminal record.

Exactly. Not a great look for counselling training is it?