Mature Student - Funding

[glasshouse]

Any ideas on funding available for mature students. I've been doing an access course and have really got the bug back for brain work. At the moment I'm in full time employment, have a child and a husband who's unable to work due to a breakdown. Would need to get enough funding to cover running the house but am not sure whether I should even start dreaming? I've looked at the uni website but can only get it up to £10K which, with the best will in the world, we couldn't live on. Any ideas?

Careers development loan from the bank?

Will have a look at that. Any more ideas?

Have you had Student Loans before?

Is this for an undergraduate degree?

No, not had student loans before and it is an undergraduate degree. I've looked at the student calculator guide but was wondering whether there was anywhere else I could go to. It's something I would love to do, but I'll be 55 when I finish and don't even know if I'd get any work afterward. Many thanks for your help.

You could try Turn2us. They have an online bens calculator but they also have info on all sorts of grants, some of which can be very obscure and specific.
I think you can call and speak to an advisor.

I would call up both the student loans company and the institition you are hoping to attend. Ask to speak to financial suplort officer or similar. They should know where you stand. I know they did change the age requirements recently so it is harder now.
Good luck though.

If you haven't had any student loans you will be able to apply for them just the same as any other student.

Would you consider part time study? If so have a look at the OU, it's brilliant and thousands of people manage to balance studying with work. I have done some course with them and they have been absolutely brilliant.

Also since you're working I assume that you're a tax payer? If so and the course classes as something that would be of benefit to your employer (whatever that means) you may be able to pay by salary sacrifice (i.e. before tax).