Dont know what to do - whether to go to uni or not with zero funding ?

[Huddersfieldlass]

Hi
Im in a real cross roads in my life and dont know what to do. I dropped out of my art course 20 years ago due to my dad becoming very ill in and out of hospital and stress of it all actually made me ill at the time. I went to work in a bank and worked my way up to be a senior manager from a temp but always wanted to work in art as a career it always haunted me what happed. I kept my hand in art and did evening courses etc whilst also wanting a family and having difficulties with that. Our first son died shortly after birth 4 years ago and I luckily went on to have another son 2 years ago who is healthy and happy boy very grateful. This year Ive really thought about going back to uni to finish my degree and after interviews have been offered a place starting second year of a foundation art degree starting in september. I have volunteered at a charity one morning a week for 6 months teaching art to the disabled and have a sabatical from work for a year to be able to return if i so choose next november. Unfortunatley at the last moment a large spanner has been thrown in im having a nightmare with student finance they keep moving goal posts as to why im being declined funding and im stuck trying to argue that with them. Im not sure what to do I have some savings and the place ive been volunteering have offered me a part time job around uni but low paid. Not sure whether to at least do the next year and get a foundation art degree even if it means paying for it myself and funding myself or not doing it at all and just seeking more paid work in art as I build up my experience. My worry is we have a house and mortgage and my partner is about to start a new job himself. We have already had so much stress with the death of our first son i dont want to add more to us both. Im also scared of failing again. Ive looked at our finances and made savings on that front and think it will work technically on paper but just worrying about whats round the corner especially right now. When i started this journey to get back into it the world wasnt as it is now with war in ukraine and the impact of that on cost of living. My heads just fried thinking about it all. Im going to carry on arguing it with student finance but unlikely will be sorted for my start date now so have to think i may be funding it myself. If anyone can offer any advice i would be grateful.

Thank you so so much @sashh for giving me this advice. I will have a look at these today and start contacting. Given me a boost today already! Thank you :).

You are more than welcome.

Another thing I found was that they prefer you to approach a number of trusts, not just one.

Oh and another one to look at - you have to register but it is free

www.thescholarshiphub.org.uk/find-a-scholarship?sf_paged=2

Great thank you for being so kind trying to help I will try them all. Its been a bit like having a rug pulled from under me with student finance as didnt want to eat into my savings for the whole thing. But this is definitely worth a try! @sashh

Well the worst that can happen is they say 'no'. After the things you describe happening you deserve to follow your dream.

Follow your dreams! You have had a lot of difficult times and you deserve to do something for yourself.

I did my art degree at St Martins as a mature student. To make it work I chose a part-time degree and also worked part of the week. But obviously it took much longer to complete.

I'm older than you and just wanted to tell you I just finished a specialist Fine art degree and unable to get funding for a masters, set about making funding proposals, entering for bursary's etc, getting a scholarship, and have successfully picked up half the fee's in total so far for a second sit alongside BA on the performance design side, backed up with uni temps works through uni, and all sorts of scrape together, even interupting studies formally to snuffle up a quick three grand, (which i managed to get a bit of added funding out of the uni for) working in the field alongside, and am finally doing something in life I care passionately about and using my creativity to enhance other peoples lives and well being. If you shove a badly heeled foot through the door and are passionate, you'll be surprised what can open up and how many people will start handing you opportunities.
At the moment it's getting a knock back on how you thought you'd get in, but a) go and use them to help you sort SFE out if poss, and b) it all gets so much better and different once you are actually through the door. They want to retain every student.
If you want something badly enough and you know you'd be happier in a very different groove, find a way.

Were you not eligible for the Government Postgraduate Loan for your MA, @Elleherd ? I found it useful at Master’s level - the PhD loan would have been too problematic. It’s just a pity they have an age limit.

Thank you @Elleherd that helps a lot to hear you've made it and still going. My student finance case has only very recently been accepted as an appeal by student finance so just waiting for them to come back. But I've accepted I will have to pay for this year to be honest just going to see what I can get for next year. Iam determined to keep going taking one year at a time. Yes I have already done one project and already on to two more now and heard guest speakers. It's all a world away from my job before. I think I'm still transitioning into this new life as I say it's a world away from my old job, but it will happen I'm sure.

Invest in yourself. Always

if you dont no one will make you

OP

I just had another thought, you might be able to claim some universal credit, it depends on what your partner earns.

Glad you are following your dreams.

Hi OP, unless it’s too late to change I would strongly recommend NOT doing further counselling qualifications if you want to be a therapist.

I am yet to see a therapy course, either art therapy or a different modality where you have to be a counsellor. Level 1/2 at least aren’t accredited so you legally can’t work in the way you’d like, it’s so much better, easier and cheaper to wait and complete a masters qualification in the future. It’s expensive - my training was nearly £100k over 4 years but that’s it.

@SomePosters your so right thank you

@sashh thank you for that suggestion I will look into that as well

Yes going for it, think some fqriends and family (certainly not all) seriously think I'm mad but you only live once. Good to hear some positivity xx

@PandaOrLion yes I totally agree. I'm not planning to go beyond level 3 which is the course I'm on now. I have been doing it to help me adapt to a helping profession as my previous role working internally within a bank on internal banking issues was not focused on that (other then the day to day management of a team). Also to learn on a deeper level communication skills for my own personnel development. Once i get to level 3 if I can't pursue art therapy (if I really don't get funding for masters etc.) I can have up to a 5 year break in qualifications to be able to carry on and do level 4 counselling (which qualifies me as a counsellor) thank you though for that guidance it all helps right now.

No it turned out I wasn't. But it turns out you want something badly enough there seem to be ways to patchwork your own funding pots together to get it, 🙂and a surprising level of support to help enthusiastic students achieve their goals if they're prepared to graft for it.

Update - just to say, after lots of phone calls, emails, chat messages all pushing back to student finance. I have now been accepted for funding this weekend. This is after applying in May 2022 and being totally declined for any funding in July, August and again in September 2022. I had to raise a formal appeal in the end to sort this out, So can hardly believe this has happened. After not being sure whether to start university at all due to this and being completely stressed in August as to what to do. I had just accepted to fund it myself. I may pay back pretty quickly but it helps to have that safety net and can pursue my dream fully to be an art therapist. But so glad i reached out for advice on here, this really helped. Meant I started my course and kept going. Just wanted to say a massive thanks to everyone for their advice good, bad and concerns. It all helped to give more considerations and suggestions and to keep going. Thank you all so so much :) p.s wanted to update as well for any future mature students in a similar situation to me.. don't give up!!!

That must be such a relief!

I’m very happy for you. Good luck with your course. 🎉

Huddersfieldlass Well done. Enjoy the journey.🙂

Thank you @MuddlerInLaw and @Elleherd 😀