University as a mature student (second degree) and single mother

[sanityisamyth]

Hello all,

I have applied to do pharmacy at 5 different universities for a September 2019 start I have a house to sell which will cover tuition fees (as I'm under the impression that I won't get any loans/funding to cover tuition fees as it's my second degree. I did 4.5 years for my first degree but was on compassionate leave for a year.

What other loans/bursaries/grants am I eligible for? My son is 5 and will have no other income.

Bump. Anyone?

same boat - so watching!

whats your 2nd degree in?
OU do fund some 2nd degrees?

I’m in Scotland, so I don’t know if things will be different, if you’re not..... but you should get a student loan for living expenses (I’m
Not sure what else you will be entitled to)

Hi @carly2803 my first degree was chemistry, biology and education. This degree is to do pharmacy. Can't do it through the OU as there's a lot of practical elements.

Also watching as my circumstances are similar...

Seems like the information on the SFE or government websites needs to be a lot clearer!!

I'm also a single parent currently doing a second degree. My degree is for an allied health profession so I can get a loan for the fees and maintenance.

Will you be eligible for a maintenance loan? If so, single parents can get a slightly higher amount (think around £1200 more). There's also a Parents Learning Allowance of around £1600 which is a bursary rather than a loan. I also get Child Tax Credit, but I was getting that before starting Uni...I don't know if you can make a new claim for that now?

My university also offers a bursary of between £500-£1500 a year to all students, the amount depends on how much your family income is, so your uni might do similar?

Imo you’re insane if you sell a house to pay tuition fees for a degree. You’re cashing in a hard asset to fund a dream that may not even lead to a job.

Someone else has also mentioned - there are some courses that used to be NHS bursary funded that are now eligible for the "standard" undergraduate finance package even if they're second degrees - so basically you can get the fees and maintenance loans. Only know this as I currently have, at the age of 40 so I'm shitting myself about it, a UCAS application in for one of them.

Mind you my original student loan is long since paid back and I'm so ancient I got a flipping student grant for my university days!

Thanks @CosmicComet for that piece of advice. My solicitor is holding £30,000 for me as a deposit to buy a house whenever I want it, and I can't get a new mortgage even with a £80,000 deposit, so why not actually use the money to get me out of a job/career that is making me miserable, anxious and stressed to hopefully lead to one that I might enjoy more? Also in the four years my credit rating should have improved significantly so that the £30,000 will be sufficient to get a mortgage on a nicer house.

Thanks @TraLaLaaaaa and @HexagonalBattenburg. I'm not sure whether pharmacy would come under the NHS bursary scheme but definitely worth looking into. I'll ask the unis what loans and bursaries etc. they offer specifically, in addition to the standard SFE/government ones. It's all very complicated!

That’s really interesting about the bursary scheme. Do you know which courses they are or recommend a website where I could look for further info?

Areyouongluedear, this website has a list of the allied health profession courses you can get a loan for even if it's your second degree (they used to be NHS funded but aren't any more).

[https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nhs-bursary-reform/nhs-bursary-reform]

HexaganolBattenburg, good luck! I started a SaLT degree last September. Aged 46.

@TraLaLaaaaa damn! Pharmacy isn't on there :(

Thank you! Will have a look now...