Access course funding

[Debs75]

I am enrolling on the access course and I have been denied funding.
I am on income support with 4 dc's under 16.
If I was doing the course in 1 year it would be free but as I want to do it over 2 years the govt wont fund part time courses.
Student finances wasn't there so thought one of you might know if I can get any other funding somehow

Thanks in advance

Anyone out there???

Probably not much help but I did an access course a few years ago and did it over 2 years. It really is worth doing if you can find a way to get it funded/pay for it as it enabled me to get onto a LLB Law degree.

My friend is about to start hers in Sept but cannot get it paid for as she already has a level 3 qualification. Could this be one of the reasons affecting you?

I also know people who have done the access course full time during the day and to be honest it is nowhere near fulltime working hours. They were only in college 9.30-2.30 3 days a week. You may even get help with childcare if any of your children are under school age so might be worth considering just doing it in 1 year.

Also if you do plan to go to uni look into part time courses as you may be eligable for funding which covers all fees.

I did think about full time but I have 2 under 4 at home and by time I had done the class times and then home study I would never see them. I know working mums have that problem so I'm not looking for sympathy. Also I need really high grades to have a chance of uni so wanted the extra time.
Basically me and dp discussed it and decided £600 is worth having the extra time with the lo's

It means a fair bit of belt tightening but we should do it. It's just a pity there isn't the financial help there.

Hi,

I completed a full time access course last June and although it was very hard it was well worth it. I had 2 dc one of which was only 8 months at the time, also found out I was pregnant with my 3rd and decided to carry on and completed the course 6 months pregnant! Have you contacted the college to ask how many days it was over? my course was full time but only over 2/3 days per week. I was offered a place at my local uni from doing the access course and after deferring for a year due to start this sept with 3DC all under the age of 6.

Have you got any local support, family, friends ect to help out?

I hope it works out for you, good luck x

can you get a student loan to pay for it?

I tries to apply for childcare grant and was told that student finance only help with uni fees not college fee's

Did the open day and signed up, will be doing 2 full days over 2 years rather than 3 and a half days over 1 year.
We are just sucking up the cost as we get too much on benefits to get a learner support fund grant. Not entitled to childcare either but dp is more than happy to do that.