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@Gee I'm doing an MSc in public health. I saw you can get some grants if you're in your undergrad and I thought I saw something about your postgrad but I can't see anything and it's saying there's no option I've got a nursery but I'm just a bit scared that I won't afford it as I'm a single parent.
If you’re on UC you can claim up to 85% of childcare fees back no? Sure I saw a poster about it when I went into my jobcentre a couple weeks ago
You'll be able to apply for the post-grad loan which will help you cover course fees + then some depending on how much your course costs. The thing with this is it's not means tested and you can request the full amount if needed. It's split into three installments similar to undergrad but you will be responsible for paying your fees. The benefit of this is it shouldn't affect your UC Payments. You will be eligible for a certain percentage of childcare fees as @Elizabeth mentioned above. Unfortunately however I don't think there are any grants available but it could be worth checking out on your university's page as I know mine offered a grant if you were doing a nursing (I think) based course
@Elizabeth i thought that would be if i was working ? Can I apply for that if im a full time student
@Gee thank you, I've just sent them an email to see if there's anything available. Is the post grad loan the same as the student finance one? I've applied for that this far
I’m not too sure as I’m only due my first in a few weeks. But if you get help already by uc I thought you could be eligible for it? I’d ask the question
Yeah yeah it's the same one. I'll be honest the road ahead won't be easy but if you're determined you'll get through it. Don't be afraid of asking for extensions on your work if you need it and don't be afraid to ask your lecturers for support in your work if you need it. You should be incredibly proud of yourself for even considering this as a step forward for you and your child/ren!
@Gee thank you so much, honestly I was so pumped but today I was filled with so much doubt and anxiety coz of childcare Thank you! I will definitely work closely with my tutors and be honest with myself and ask for extensions when needed! I had felt this pressure that I'd have to do everything on time Thank you so much ❤️ I'm really hoping this masters opens doors for me so I can support my child how I had intended on in the beginning. Breaking up and being a single parent really threw me off for the last couple of years ❤️
@Elizabeth thank you ❤️ I've dropped a note for mi work coach asking what I need to be eligible I will be having a bank care job on the side so hopefully that would help
No worries! Good luck 🤞
I hear you! I headed into my thinking I had a stable relationship with my fiancé who was going to help out more with the young un only to find out after my first semester he'd been cheating since before I even started back at uni so navigating it all by myself has been a challenge 😅 It sounds like you've definitely got the right focus for doing it and if you ever get to the point where you think "I can't do this" just take a breather and remind yourself that you're doing this for you, and for your little ones' future ❤️❤️ I'm sure you'll smash it! Good luck and I hope you manage to get everything covered in terms of childcare.🤞 Feel free to drop me a message if you need anything!
Generally there aren't grants for postgraduate studies and you have to get a loan. It's not as good a rate as undergraduate student loans either. I had to put my masters on a credit card and get a second job 😬 definitely couldn't have done it with kids! My sister got a bursary to live on and fees paid for as part of her course but she's trained to be a social worker and they're really in demand. I hope you manage it! Is there a way you could do it part time over a longer period? I did my MSc over two years while working and it was much easier to manage.
It depends on what you mean by assistance? It is also massively dependent on course type and university. I'm almost at the end of my MA and have had no additional support regarding financial, or support from the university in terms of crèche as there is no space to offer this. My lecturers, however, have been a little more forgiving in regards to if I've needed an extension for coursework due to being sole provider single parent with a limited support network. I won't lie to you, it has been the single most difficult experience of my life, and the balancing act between trying to study, write and research, and raise my kid has been arduous. The only assistance that I can think of full time study is that you will get at the minimum a 25% discount on council tax, or full amount discount if you are a single adult household.