College question for anyone who knows?!

[suemarie]

Not sure if many of you remember but; I was accepted onto an Access into Nursing & Midifery college course last year after passing the intake tests, a few hours later I found out I was pg with Ashley.

Got my acceptance letter & start date 2 months after that & at that time also phoned to say I couldn't attend the course as I was pregnant. Hoping to start the course maybe next year

Anyhoo the question I have is: what is a full level 2 qualification? I have a BTEC 1st diploma, which I thought was equivalent to an NVQ1 & as such think I wont have to pay the tuition fee only the exam fee.


Aged 25+ enrolling on a first full level 3 qualification without a full level 2 qualification:


If you are studying your first full level 3 qualification and you do not already have a full level 2 qualification, you will not be charged a tuition fee.
Students will still be required to pay any exam or materials fee associated with the course unless they are in receipt of any of the above benefits in which case no tuition or exam fees will be charged.
To be eligible, you must not already possess a full level 2 qualification.

[Chicky Noops]

It's level 2 - sorry! Equivalent of 4 GCSEs.

[suemarie]

Thanks CN I prob should have asked you 1st.

As I am not on any benefits listed other than child benefit & tax credits there's not any other way I'd be able to do a course as the fee is soo high. DH's earnings are technically above the threshold so wont be able to claim reduced fees either & DH cant afford to pay £1300 for me to do the course.

[Chicky Noops]

I'm in exactly the same situation at the moment as I want to do a degree. It's part time so no student loans available for me, and we earn too much to be entitled to a grant. Sooo frustrating that you want to improve yourself but are being held back. Do you work at the moment at all Suemarie?

[Chicky Noops]

Just reading back and thinking probably not? I could have got you on a work-based fully funded level 3 course but you have to be in employment.

[suemarie]

No I'm not working ATM, I did have a P/T receptionist job last summer but quit again due to being pregnant, so not entitled to any help from the government either. Ho humm

[Chicky Noops]

Why don't you look at doing something else in HE. For example, a HND in Business Studies? You'd get a student loan as it would be full time, and you may be entitled to a non-repayable grant depending on how much your DH earns - they make allowances for how many kids you have and the threshold is highered. Plus you can top it up to a full degree in the future if you wanted.

I can't advise on midwifery or nursing I'm afraid as they're out of my area and something that we don't offer.

[peppa]

I had to get a private loan to study as we earn too much and the course isn't FT. I really think they should do some sort of low rate loans for students. Its going to cost us alot but will improve our future when I am trained and can work around school hours.