uni courses to avoid working

[sewknit56]

I have a niece and cousin (both brought up together) in their early 30's both left school at 16 and went to college and did a variety of FE courses between them. Then they did Foundation degrees then degrees at local uni then an honours degree cousin stayed local niece went away to uni. Neither have ever had a job and claim benefits one is doing a masters other is starting one in September - neither have any intention of working they get alot of their childcare paid for and say it is a good way of never having to work.

I know I shouldn't get worked up about it because it doesn't actually affect me but they could easily work but the system seems to allow them to keep studying without any intention of using their degrees. They do have alot of debt but they also get alot of government help as the government think that the more qualifications they get the easier it will be to get a job. As a working couple me and DH are going to struggle getting one child through uni and then another one a year later because we work we won't get much help. It makes me so cross!

You come across as very bitter. I would recommend directing that at the government who designs the system. In addition, why do you not class studying as work? I'm coming to the end of a dual honours undergrad and it's harder than any job I have had. If they have been accepted for a master's, they must have done well. A master's also involves a lot of work..

I thought the govt only funded university for a certain no. of years?

Presumably this isn't England as students only qualify for loans for a finite number of years. Certainly not over 10 years (if they are in their 30s?)

Stop working then. I might do the same.

At least they’ll learn that “alot” (sic) is actually two separate words, @sewknit56 .

How are they/who is funding these degrees and childcare?

What support do you think they are receiving? I know universal credit won't support them if they are at university.

Student finance England has a limit of how many years/degrees they’ll fund. Are the parents funding them?

The government only funds one degree and only some masters’, and it’s barely enough to live on, let alone the fees. And it’s all loans, so they’ll have to pay it back.

Absolute shite. 1/10.

I have no idea how you think they are playing the system. It's the system, it's set up to allow poor people, single parents and those with illness and disability equal access to higher education. They are using it exactly as it was intended.

The idea that they will be students forever is ludicrous, unless you're missing another fact eg they are disabled and unlikely to go back to work.

Your whole attitude and post stinks. Go to university if it looks like a breeze, enjoy the student income. Maybe you can get a better job when you finish and then you won't have to spend your free time being jealous of other people.

Sounds like they are playing the system very well. In one way, its great they are educating themselves and keeping their brains working whilst parenting young kids

Student Finance England funds one undergraduate degree and one postgraduate one, you can’t just keep taking out student loads continually and you also can’t claim benefits as a student so this does feel a bit sus.

They're all on drugs!

I got a loan for my undergrad, a loan for my pgce and a loan for my masters.

A friend's DD is on her 3rd degree but she has paid for the 2nd and 3rd herself. She's now studying abroad on a scholarship. I do believe some people live most of their 20s like this - sounds like a good gig to me if you can afford it. But I don't know how it's feasible otherwise as you only get loans for 4 years, and with a Masters you get a reduced loan (so not enough to live on) and no childcare either; its on the Student finance England website.

You get funding for one undergraduate, one masters and might be able to get another for a vocation training ie PGCE. It's not a huge amount either

You can't claim UC whilst studying

So unless this isn't UK (or at least England, it might be different in the other nations) then its not possible to be living off this

Studying isn't easy either

ButWhatAboutTheBees it's not true you cannot claim uc while studying. I have claimed and received uc throughout the duration of my 3 year degree.

As others have said you only get student loans for a finite number of years, plus even then the maintenance loan isn’t much.

If their parents are funding them more fool them.

You shouldn't
Unless it was child maintenance type

Job Seekers part can't be claimed whilst studying

ButWhatAboutTheBees child maintenance and uc aren't related. I'm a lone parent to two young children and the whole of my dual honours undergrad and come September PGCE is being funded and I have been able to claim uc throughout . So have other mature students who are parents on my course.

Student finance will fund a second degree if healthcare related.

You can also claim UC while receiving student finance.

UC covers all benefits now

You can claim if you have children, presumably because of the child maintainance
https://www.turn2us.org.uk/get-support/information-for-your-situation/full-time-students-and-benefits/can-full-time-students-claim-universal-credit#:~:text=If%20you%20are%20a%20student,live%20with%20your%20parents%3B%20or