Funding for university after dropping out of first degree

[tangerinetigers]

Hi I am wondering if anyone has any experience or knowledge about student finance funding when you have previously received 3 years funding.

I went to university straight from sixth form and was there 3 years in total however I didn't complete my degree. I did 1 year- changed courses and did 2 years of this and then left due to a lot going on at home and feeling very depressed at university.

I am now wanting to do a degree in primary teaching. I am now in my 30s with a child and know this is what I want to do. However I am really worried that I may not be granted a tuition fee or maintenance loan.

I have tried to find out but the answers are very vague and seem to be about finance after completing a 1st degree.

Thanks for any help.

Did you speak directly to the Student Finance people? They ought to be able to give you a definitive answer.

I think in general they will find 4 years and no more. And you need to pay the new unfunded years first then they fund later years if you have capacity.

But different for some stem and health courses. And part time ones.

Student finance will advise.

Try the open uni.

They are much cheaper.

If it's not that long ago you could maybe use the credits you have to top up to a full degree without doing another full degree.

Then you could get finding to do postgrad teaching.

Your status may depend on whether they agreed at the time that you had good cause to suspend your studies. If you just disappeared and didn't communicate it will likely count as a full year but if you put in an academic appeal to 'failing' and were granted a 2nd first attempt at that year you may be able to get the funding again.

Also as a pp said you can get one repeat year through ug and pg but only once.

If you were depressed and sought medical help at the time, then you can write a letter explaining this to Student Finance and also include a letter from your GP explaining that you dropped out due to depression.

I started on an adult learner course leading to degree and most people were in a similar position. They couldn't get first year of the course funded however the other 2/3 they did. This is in order to show commitment. Extenuating circumstances wouldn't help unfortunately if you have already switched courses at least once. Best you can do is seek uni's with majorately paid scholarships and if you don't have a job work as a flexi senior admin so fees are discounted and you can earn 12-15 an hour on admin support.

Also if you have relevant modules apply to fasttrack courses of only 18 months/2years so you can finish quicker

Hey, you can phone Student Finance and ask. I have done this as a prospective student and they were very helpful 😊.

Thanks for your responses. I will contact student finance tomorrow. I've been nervous to do it in case it is a firm no but I need to find out either way.

There’s a calculation here:

www.gov.uk/student-finance/who-qualifies?step-by-step-nav=18045f76-ac04-41b7-b147-5687d8fbb64a

You can calculate the amount you will get by taking the total number of years of the course you are applying for and adding one year. Then take away the number of years you studied for. If you studied for part of a year you should count it as a whole year.

Example

If you are applying for a 3 year course and have studied 5 months of a different course, you’ll get 3 years of funding.

If you are applying for a 4 year course and have studied 2 years of a different course, you’ll get 3 years of funding.

Hope you’ve had a positive response, @tangerinetigers.