Full time degree and finances

Saffie123

Hi, I just wonder if anyone can help me with this. I am a lone parent carer and I have been accepted for a fulltime 3 year degree starting in september. I have chosen this course as it is 5 minutes from home and only 1.5 days a week contact time which fits well around caring for my children. I have unfortunately now found out that I am only entitled to Years 2 and 3 tuition loan as a previous level course 4 I did ended up taking me 2 years instead of one as my child became seriously ill and I had to suspend part way though. The tuition fee is £6995 per year. The uni offer a £500 bursary for low income families which I will apply for.

I am trying to figure out if I can somehow pay for the first year myself via a combination of savings, maintenance loan and continuing to work part-time in my first year (I won't be able to work many hours due to my caring role). As a lone parent I need to weigh this up carefully. As far as I know, tuition loans are paid in 3 instalments of 1/3, 1/3, 2/3.

As part of my maintenance loan I will receive a Special Support Loan and Parent Learning Allowance of £6290 which will be disregarded by UC. Am I right in thinking that any part-time work I manage to do as a student will not affect the UC I will be entitled to? Can anyone offer any advice on anything else I could do as I really don't want to give up on doing this degree. Thank you

poppy123456

Earnings from working will be treated as earned income.

As you have children on your claim then you will have the work allowance. If you claim for help with the rent it will be £404/month, if you don’t then it will be £673/month. Earnings received up to those amounts are ignored but for every £1 over those amounts your UC will reduce by 55p for every £1 over.

You must report the changes if you start work and become a student.

Maintenance loans will affect your UC even if you decide not to take that loan. (There are some disregards as you correctly stated)

For any other advice about financial support for students I’d advise you to contact the Disabled Student helpline. See link for details. https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/disabled-students-helpline

Saffie123

Thank you . I am working part-time now but I was planning on leaving work so I could study alongside caring but due to not being entitled to the tuition loan for Year 1 I am going to have to find a way to continue working in the first year.