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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

CAN I AFFORD IT? single mum of two ( both in primary school) applied for a degree

16 replies

shetland81 · 06/01/2021 17:08

Hi , i wondered if anyone is able to help advise ? ( as universal credit have been hopeless in giving me any !)
I have applied to do an Open Uni degree which starts in Feb 16 hours a week .
I am on Universal credit live in private rented, currently work in a school 28 hours a week, i wish to do concentrate on this degree course.
Is anyone doing ? or can advise that it is affordable ? i have applied for a loan just for the fee s to be paid for through gov.uk. 9

OP posts:
titchy · 06/01/2021 17:24

Your income won't change will it? You're getting UC and won't be entitled to maintenance loan. I assume the age of your children means you're not expected to look for FT work.

Original poster
shetland81 · 06/01/2021 17:31

At the moment i get a wage from my job as a teaching assistant . So i was checking if anyone had a reduction in this benefit while studying . As at present I earn an extra £850 a month after universal credit have made deductions they give me £1100.

OP posts:
titchy · 06/01/2021 17:41

So you're quitting your job then? I don't think you can do that can you and still be eligible for benefits? Can't you do both as you're not studying FT?

CorianderBee · 06/01/2021 17:47

Is it a full time course?

Frouby · 06/01/2021 17:53

Look at doing the degree at a bricks and mortar uni, full time. My circumstances are different, dh earns around 23k a year, I earn around 6k. I got full maintenance loan of 9k, plus 2 bursarys worth £2400. And if I had 2 dcs requiring childcare I would have qualified for 70% of childcare paid. You would possibly have to do a foundation year so at uni for 4 years.

I was also going to do OU, but made more sense financially to do a bricks and mortar uni and do it over 4 years full time than 6 years part time.

pringlebells · 06/01/2021 17:55

DH works FT and earns 34k

I'm a student nurse, I got 9 grand maintenance loan, 7 grand bursary.

We pay for full time childcare for DS 1

cracracatlady · 06/01/2021 17:59

You should easily manage a OU part time degree and part time work. Gov are trying to bring in maintenance loan for distance leaning part time, if that happens UC will calculate your payment if you’ve had the maintenance loan or not. When it was tax credits they didn’t count it as income. UC do

titchy · 06/01/2021 18:09

@cracracatlady

You should easily manage a OU part time degree and part time work. Gov are trying to bring in maintenance loan for distance leaning part time, if that happens UC will calculate your payment if you’ve had the maintenance loan or not. When it was tax credits they didn’t count it as income. UC do
The Government are certainly not trying to do that at all - they should, but they're not.

The advice to study FT at a bricks and mortar uni is a good one.

OP won't be eligible for maintenance and may well be regarded as making herself intentionally unemployed by quitting her job for a part time OU degree.

Original poster
shetland81 · 06/01/2021 18:52

thank you all

OP posts:
cracracatlady · 06/01/2021 19:45

They are. They have already brought it in for people who study distance learning due to disability. I have received emails stating as much

WolfHunter · 06/01/2021 19:49

What are you planning on studying? There are bursaries available for some courses.

titchy · 06/01/2021 19:50

@cracracatlady

They are. They have already brought it in for people who study distance learning due to disability. I have received emails stating as much
That's always been the exception though. There is no appetite in government for allowing all DL students to access maintenance loans - trust me this is my area. If there was I'd be delighted! As would the OU be as they've been campaigning for this.
snaxinyourslacks · 06/01/2021 21:03

If you are working in a school, are you studying something connected to education/children? If so I would really recommend not quitting your job as it will really help with your studies.

Buttonmoonb4tea · 06/01/2021 21:10

www.gov.uk/guidance/universal-credit-and-students

LivingMyBestLife2020 · 06/01/2021 21:19

You should be able to work and study, I did. I was doing half time OU (about 24 hours a week) and working full time with a toddler (single parent) so it’s doable but damn hard!
I’m now going to university to study midwifery this year. I’m estimated to get about £17k through bursaries, maintenance loan and childcare grants. I didn’t get any of this for the part time OU degree but I doubt I’ll be able to work more that a few hours a week on the midwifery course
Good luck with whatever it is you are doing

Original poster
shetland81 · 08/01/2021 18:17

Thank you all I am going to study Psychology and counselling

OP posts:
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