Lone parent wanting to study

[Shortstuff08]

Good Morning All

Just to give you a quick overview, I am a 36 year old mum of 1. I left abusive dh last year. My employer has been ridiculously unhelpful and put me on permanent late shifts meaning that I can no longer remain working there.

I have been furiously looking for jobs in my field, but most require a degree. I have lots of experience but struggling with the lack of degree.

I am thinking about returning to studying, but have no clue where I would start looking at what help/ if any would be available to me.

Can anyone point me in the right direction to get some advice, to even see if I can get help to do this.

I live in england if that helps at all.

Many thanks

Do you have A levels or would you your experience exempt you from that requirement? The other possibility is a foundation year. Identify which universities offer the appropriate degree, contact the admissions department nd talk to them.

I can get funding for a degree with Open university.

It's just how I pay my bills while I do it. My head is just frazzled at the moment.

Talk to your local council and see what they can offer in terms of a maintenance grant. Not much probably but it won’t hurt to ask.

Otherwise, you’ll need to find another job with more convenient hours and study in your spare time. It isn’t an easy option but can be done, unless your course needs lots of laboratory time.

Or will the student loan co. lend to you if you are studying with the OU?

Hi!

Firstly... have you put in a Flexible Working request with work to have earlier shifts?

Re studying, I am doing my degree with the OU and love it. Can’t recommend the OU enough, they are amazing. Had a tough yet and they’ve been great.

However, you can’t get a maintenance loan with the OU. For the first time ever this year, you can get a maintenance loan with part time study if you are starting a new course. Plus a loan for tuition fees, plus other support for childcare while you are studying and a grant for buying books etc.

Go in the Student Finance gov website and there is a calculator. It will tell you what you can get. If you want to study starting in Sept, it’s not too late. You can go through clearing in Aug even if you aren’t a current A level student getting results, or you can contact the uni now and discuss. As a mature student you don’t have to meet the a level requirements.

Good luck 😊

• The loans etc I mentioned aren’t for OU but for other unis that you attend. This is the England support, if you are in Wales/Scotland etc it’s didferent but similar