Student Finance/Gap Years

[MidLifeCrisis007]

This is a totally new area for us......

By way of background DS1 (year 13) was hoping to have a gap year but his chances of getting a job in the Alps as hoped look quite slim.

He has a Durham offer for 2020 (which he looks certain to meet) and we are encouraging him to take it and to apply for student finance sooner rather than later.

If he does manage to secure a job in the Alps can he defer the finance if he reapplies for a 2021 university place or will he have to pay interest for a year?

You just cancel the sf application and reapply for 2021, very straightforward. However between cv and Brexit I would not raise hopes of working a season in Europe. Recruitment was already much lower for Brits this year.

Thanks LIZS, that's good to know. Yes, I totally agree that job opportunities in the Alps will be very limited for 18 year old Brits next season.... He speaks good Russian though ("done" the Pre U) which might give him the edge for jobs in Courchevel!

If he hasn't found a job by results day in August, he'll be off to Durham this year!

If the ski season doesn't work out I wonder if things like Raleigh will still be operating? DS did it and it was tough but v v good. Learned good Spanish and how to wield a machete and mix concrete. Lost two stone too. But tales aplenty!