sahm wanting to study p/t.....can I apply for a student loan?

[Becaroooo]

Ok, so HE charges are going up for all courses from sept 2012.

This means the OU course I want to do has gone from £650 last year to £2,500 this year (only an increase of 400%!!)

I cannot afford this, even with an OUSBA account, the repayments would be nearly £300 per month.

If I apply for a student loan do the rules for 18 year olds apply to me (will be 40 just after course starts btw) i.e. I wont have to repay the loan amount until I earn over £21,000??

Also, how far in advance do you need to apply? I am assuming the earlier the better?

TIA

Unfortunately I have no advice, but I'll be watching this thread as I'm interested I finding out too!

I tried the govt website but it was v confusing and I get better answers on MN!!!

Me too.

I'm doin ou course and use ousba, but also interested to know this as I want to double up modules in a years time to get done quicker, I'm currently a sahm.

Is it the law modules, I noticed how v expensive they are.

No, it E111.

Cant apply for a loan via the givt website, just tried

Will phone OU tomorrow and see what they say...its not looking good

Thanks for update, finger crossed.

Have you seen this:

www8.open.ac.uk/study/explained/fees-2012/fees-and-funding-england

It explains the new situation - you need to be studying for a 30 point course and you can't already have a degree if you want to apply for a student loan and it isn't repayable until you earn £21,000. The gov website may not be set up correctly yet to accept OU students because they are generally rubbish so I would check with the OU what the procedure is.

bigeyes its only for new students if you have already started your degree then there are transitional arrangements here
www8.open.ac.uk/study/explained/fees-2012/fees-for-current-students-england

webwiz thanks for that I already have a degree, I'm retraining and was hoping to be at a certain point by the time I'm 40 and at post graduate level.

Seems i will continue to sacrifice allowance using OUSBA for the time being.

Good luck beca

Got through at last!

So, when registration opens that is when you apply for a SL (or financial help as the OU term it).

To be eligible the course needs to be higher than any current quals you have and you arent allowed to claim for any other course at any other institution.

So it seems that I can apply after all!

Basically the lady said that its still too early for definate info on how its going to work but that as far as they know that is the situation.

HTH

Oh that's get new becaroo, maybe when I come to do post grad I may get assistance. Thanks for update, good luck with future applications. X