Does anybody know what loan I'm entitiled to now I'm pregnant? Starting PGCE September

[Hayleyandbaby]

I start my PGCE in September, it's part time over 2 years and I don't think I'm entitled to a loan which is worrying. Does anyone know either way?

I don't know but I wish you the very best of luck. It's a very challenging course! x

You are entitled to the same loan as before, as you may be pregnant but still have no dependents. I am about to start my PGCE as well - at Exeter. As yours is part time you will get the bursary (6k) spread over the 2 years and a grant as well. You'll need to pay 1500 fees per year as a part time student, but these will be paid by a tuition fee loan, which you will get at 1500 a year and it will go straight to the uni. And you can get a loan of up to (I think) 2800 a year, but bear in mind also that whatever grant on top of the non-means tested part of the grant, that you get, will be deducted from your loan entitlement. Say you only get the means tested part, you'll get the following each year:

3k bursary
1500 to the uni to pay the fees
1200 grant
2800 loan

But clarify with the loans people.

Oh and as you'd probably get the full 2800, you'd probably expect to get the full 2700 grant, not just the 1200, so you'll probably end up with 2700 grant, 3k bursary and 1300-1600 loan (I got nearly full grant but they only knocked half off the loan).

So either way, you will get at least 7000, possibly a bit more, each year.

That's fantastic news, thank u!!! I've started the course late so I have no idea what happens and no1s really been able to help. Thanks again for that!! x

Hi,thought Id ask too if anyone knows if there are any other avaliable grants for childcare help. Im hoping to do a pgce next yr have 1 child and already had a student loan so don`t really want to borrow anymore cash.
cheers

I get a childcare grant, not for the PGCE (thats a bit away) but have been told that carries on- I get 85% paid but its is dependent on income

you'll need the form signed by the childcare provider though so you cant formally aplly for it yet

Yes, as Peachy said, you can get a childcare grant. But not when pregnant The OP will get that once the baby is born. You can also apply for hardship grants.

The grants aren't huge, though. I already have a student loan and with the loan for fees, I will come out of my PGCE with a 20k student debt. But it gets paid at the smae rate monthly whatever the level of debt, it will just take longer to pay; as it gets wiped out when you reach 55 years old, depending how old you are, you probably wouldn't ever pay back what you borrowed anyway, especially now the loan interest rate is 4.8%

Hrdship grants need to be applied for AS SOON AS YOU START UNI- they're a limited fund and run out.

I don't think the funding is too bad, tbh (although my PGCE will be in a shortgae subject LOL), but at Uni atm I geta round £7k a year, whilst a lot has to be paid back, right now I cant work anyway so its a significant factor in keeping us afloat.

wow horseywoman thats a lot is that 20k for one year???

I'm in Scotland so very different system, I also believe that since we have this SNP government they are doing away with student fees altogether (althought they will bump it on somewhere)

Its such an arse as well that I cannot get an adult learning grant because it is based on this financial yr so when my income will go down dramatically to study to become a teacher i will not be able to have the grant because of what im earning now.
My partner earns more than the minimum amount to be entitled to any other help. I might try and do it through the GTP route but not sure if they take on people wantng to do Art and design??
From earning 20k to 6or 7k is a vast drop and it is almost putting me off going down the teacher route.