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.

If I'd been discovered and prosecuted for fraud, yes.

Of course they would you would need.a Disclosure to even do practise hours never mind actually working. Your background would be checked. Your self belief is impressive though.

I meant noone would ever find out that I had a first degree, not that I'd been prosecuted for fraud.

Regrettably.

So you wouldn't declare a qualification on your application?

An employer isn't going to do a background check on whether her qualifications were self-funded or through a student loan. That has nothing to do with them. They won't care.

The college funding bodies would though . It's a hypothetical would I get away with this scenario. Probably not and it is morally wrong I mean the op thinks their morals and ethics are fine so it doesn't matter what the Internet thinks.

I think the point is that she wasn't going to declare her first degree when applying for finance for this course. They wouldn't know she had it then.

I'll do the L4 Dip and self fund

As many who already have first degrees have to do. I hope you are able to fund your fees, your supervision and your own therapy.

I do know how much it costs so yes all factored in.

My morals and ethics ARE fine. Thinking about something and discussing it hypothetically doesn't affect your ethics or morals.

I am doing a second degree part time and have a student loan. My first degree started in 1990 and did involve at least a year of student loan. Big caveat - I am in Wales where they are more generous than England in their approach to education.

Lucky! Hope you are enjoying it.

You must know that the govt bodies know what the previous names of institutions were? Surely you can't be that naive

How could she "pay it all back"? Her first degree was 35 years ago so that makes her around 56 years old! Once she starts paying back the fraudulently obtained one, there'll be very few years of repayments before age of 65 when loan repayments stop, maybe 9 years max, so no way will she pay off the loan unless she's going to earn £100's of thousands of pounds in wages per year between the age of 59 (graduation of second degree) and retirement aged 65!

If you have the funds for that you don't really need a loan then, surely?

I said I'd factored it in, not that I can afford it! I'll have to take a year or so off to save for it.

And also funding myself through two years of a foundation degree would cost 18k in fees (2300 per 30 credits and its a 240 credit course). Diploma is 7.

Student loan's don't get written off at 65 now (unless taken out 2007 or before)

It's written off after 30/40 years -40 now.

I had a student loan for a BA back in the 2000s, I then requested a loan for the counselling diploma (and BA) but they turned me down. You can access a maintenance loan though which won't cover it all but may help?
I self funded and they spread the cost over 8 months which is currently £600 a month but the costs would depend on where you choose to study.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do. It's the best thing I've EVER done so worth the cost for me x

Yes they will know. For a start, you have to put your NI number on the application.
From personal experience, I recently applied (not fraudulently) for a postgraduate Masters loan. They knew about my first degree and other PG course (not a Masters so still eligible).
Also, if this course has entry requirements, you won't be able to use the degree you're trying to hide to get on to it. Likewise, if your current occupation needs a degree, you're going to have to somehow fabricate how you've done it for so long without one.

Long story short, your NI number doesn't change so you'll be rumbled regardless.

I have worked in colleges for years. One changed name, closed and opened different campuses, and you can still access records of students from years ago, pre-name change. One of them was the college DP attended, obviously many years ago. His complete learning record was still on the system when I worked there (I'm not being hypocritical, he needed it for another course and student records sent the information via the correct procedure!)

Absolutely agree @Sererus I used to work in an institution that had had mergers and name changes. All the records were there back to the year dot.

If the cost of a BA is £18k, you would be much better off looking at a masters. Similar cost, higher level qualification. Some courses in London are only at the weekend, so people attend from all over the country. Look at Metanoia, Minster, Roehampton. Most therapists aren't employed, because NHS roles are limited. Most are self employed.
Also remember to factor in your therapy costs, and potentially supervision costs, as you will be seeing clients before you qualify.

Thanks! I'm so happy to hear you enjoyed it. I loved the counselling skills certificate that I did.