Funding for student parents/quitting my job

[DoubtfireDear]

Have namechanged for this as some of my other posts are quite identifying and I want to keep this to myself for now.

I am in Scotland, and have been accepted onto a full time course starting in August/early September (no timetable yet).

I have applied for funding, but phoned SAAS yesterday and it will be a fair while before my application is processed, they can't give me any information at the minute.

I had SAAS years ago, and owe them some money, a small amount of which has been paid back through a court order but there is alot left outstanding- does anyone know if t is will prevent me getting funding for my new course? It was bursery which I was overpaid, so not the same as repaytng student loan.

I'm also having a shit time at work- my boss puts me in for shifts that I have told her several times I am unable to do, and have never had to do in the past. I can't deal with this when I'm trying to juggle DS wrap around care and college into the bargain. I want to quit my job but I'm afraid that losing working tax credits will leave me unable to afford living costs.

I have an appointment with a student finance advisor on Friday and am.hoping that will clear a few things up but wondered if any of you could share any advice or experience so that I can fet my head around it before speaking to her, and to put my mind at rest as I'm so worried about it. Studying for this career is my ticket out of the dead end job and I'm seriously worried about having to give up because of work (if i cant quit) or lack of funding.

Any help would be really appreciated, thanks.

i

excuse typos, i'm on my phone and the keyboard is a bit crap.

anyone at all?

I think there's a LP grant available through SaaS as well as the usual bursaries. Possibly childcare help. There's usually links on the uni website.
You'll probably be able to look for p/t work once you know your schedule. I'm doing a p/t degree around f/t work. I'd rather study f/t but couldn't risk it financially plus my degree is relevant to my occupation and is very flexible.

Thanks BlackWings, I have applied for the lone parent grant, bursary and loan. I'm just worried they wont grant me anything because i quit my previous course (over 5 years ago) and didn't pay back bursary.

If I can't afford to quit the job I'm in (if SAAS don't grant me anything, or if the loss of WTC will leave me in difficulty) I will need to stay in the job I'm in and attempt to struggle on with my boss, because of location etc there will be no possibility of me looking for work elsewhere. (don't want to say too much about where I am currently).

bump?

How many years of your previous course did you do or part do and how many years is this course?

IMy last course was two years and I did just under a year and a half- I left to have my son.

This course is only one year, i'm doing it with the hope of getting into uni next year.

They do limit the number of years you can receive help so if it doesn't affect this course it may affect funding for a degree

They count part years as full years

The student finance advisor is best placed to tell you exactly what you can expect -talking to SAAS is like talking to my backside sometimes, they won't offer advice you have to wait for your application to be processed

Thanks leftfeet. I know that the length of my last course wont really affect funding for this one as I think you get up to four years?

As far as I know my degree can be funded seperately from SAAS because of the area I'll be studying, so that's not a worry. Also the course I am doing this year could still lead me to a career in my field of interest if I am unable to do a degree.

My main concern is the money I already owe back, I was a daft teenager and didn't really handle it very well at the time but am more sensible now, have been trying to pay back and don't want my future to suffer because of it.

you are right about talking to SAAS, you may as well be talking to a brick wall sometimes.