Motorsport/education help

[Mark1012]

Hi

I am new to this forum as a friend recommended I asked my question here.

I am currently 21 and I am looking at going back to University this year. The only problem is that I have withdrawn from two different Universities’ in the past. One was mainly because of the finance and the second was because I was not enjoying the course.

Would the finance company’s loan me the money to do a course? As I am interested in studying Motorsport. Seeing as I have withdrawn in the past am I better off working my way up through teams and skip the education bit.

Thanks

[davepoth]

Loan companies are only going to assess on your ability to repay, not your ability to finish the course - they aren't especially bothered about that.

However, if you want to go to university you'll be looking at between twelve and eighteen thousand pounds just to cover the tuition fees. That's a big chunk of money, and if you've already quit university twice one has to wonder whether you'll stick it out if you try a third time.

You say you want to study "Motorsport"; what part of motorsport? Which university?

[Mark1012]

davepoth said:

Loan companies are only going to assess on your ability to repay, not your ability to finish the course - they aren't especially bothered about that.

However, if you want to go to university you'll be looking at between twelve and eighteen thousand pounds just to cover the tuition fees. That's a big chunk of money, and if you've already quit university twice one has to wonder whether you'll stick it out if you try a third time.

You say you want to study "Motorsport"; what part of motorsport? Which university?

I am not sure what part, maybe just a race engineer, down to a couple of University, Coventry, Swansea and Derby.

[rog007]

Depending upon your entry grades; aim for a red brick and do a solid general mechanical/electrical engineering degree, ideally one with an interest/link to the automotive industry, such as Aston http://www1.aston.ac.uk/eas/undergraduate/formula-...

If you specialise too early you may find it restrictive if you wish to change tack in the future. Good luck!

[egomeister]

Mark1012 said:

I am not sure what part, maybe just a race engineer, down to a couple of University, Coventry, Swansea and Derby.

"just a race engineer"?? You sound like you think this is an easy route into motorsport or something?

Anyone can have a go at running a car, but to really understand race engineering you need a good background in vehicle dyamics, data analysis, simulation etc which would most likely need to be based on a firm theoretical knowledge - ie, back to uni.

[Mark1012]

egomeister said:

Mark1012 said:

I am not sure what part, maybe just a race engineer, down to a couple of University, Coventry, Swansea and Derby.

"just a race engineer"?? You sound like you think this is an easy route into motorsport or something?

Anyone can have a go at running a car, but to really understand race engineering you need a good background in vehicle dyamics, data analysis, simulation etc which would most likely need to be based on a firm theoretical knowledge - ie, back to uni.

Ok thanks, so my best bet is to go back to University, study hard and get good grades?

[93Jay]

You are talking about taking a student loan from the Government aren't you?

From what I'v been told everyone is entitled to it regardless of situation.

[egomeister]

Mark1012 said:

Ok thanks, so my best bet is to go back to University, study hard and get good grades?

Never going to hurt is it?

Why do you want to do motorsport? You don't give me the impression you really know what you want to end up doing. Motorsport isn't all champagne and blowjobs like it appears on TV - it's blood sweat and tears.

[Mark1012]

egomeister said:

Mark1012 said:

Ok thanks, so my best bet is to go back to University, study hard and get good grades?

Never going to hurt is it?

Why do you want to do motorsport? You don't give me the impression you really know what you want to end up doing. Motorsport isn't all champagne and blowjobs like it appears on TV - it's blood sweat and tears.

Yer but I am all ready in a fair amount of debt, would the debt be worth it?

I have worked for some teams for a couple of years just basic mechanic work, I all ways wanted to do that so never thought I needed University but in the last month I have been looking around and speaking to people and I think I would like to put the extra work in and get a degree and be more then a mechanic. I understand the amount of work that is involved and I want to prove to myself I can get a degree and hopefully get a good grade.

[egomeister]

Mark1012 said:

egomeister said:

Mark1012 said:

Ok thanks, so my best bet is to go back to University, study hard and get good grades?

Never going to hurt is it?

Why do you want to do motorsport? You don't give me the impression you really know what you want to end up doing. Motorsport isn't all champagne and blowjobs like it appears on TV - it's blood sweat and tears.

Yer but I am all ready in a fair amount of debt, would the debt be worth it?

I have worked for some teams for a couple of years just basic mechanic work, I all ways wanted to do that so never thought I needed University but in the last month I have been looking around and speaking to people and I think I would like to put the extra work in and get a degree and be more then a mechanic. I understand the amount of work that is involved and I want to prove to myself I can get a degree and hopefully get a good grade.

Fair enough, your earlier posts sounded a bit vague - I wasn't sure whether you understood the reality of working in motorsport, compared to its outward image. If you were only considering it because "it looks fun" then I would have said it was probably a bad idea!

Whether it is worth the additional debt is something only you can determine - if you are studying full time with little or no income, then your existing debts are only going to mount further.

Could you combine your study with some "weekend warrior" work through your existing contacts - that way you get the best of both worlds, education whilst managing your debt/expenses? Or perhaps see if you can do the courses part time over a longer period? Either way, it'll be a long slog!

[Mark1012]

egomeister said:

Fair enough, your earlier posts sounded a bit vague - I wasn't sure whether you understood the reality of working in motorsport, compared to its outward image. If you were only considering it because "it looks fun" then I would have said it was probably a bad idea!

Whether it is worth the additional debt is something only you can determine - if you are studying full time with little or no income, then your existing debts are only going to mount further.

Could you combine your study with some "weekend warrior" work through your existing contacts - that way you get the best of both worlds, education whilst managing your debt/expenses? Or perhaps see if you can do the courses part time over a longer period? Either way, it'll be a long slog!

Yer sorry I was a bit rushed before and forgot to put vital information in. Thanks for the info I will look into my optiona.

Do you work in motorsport?

[Studio117]

Re Government finance:

Did you quit before the first term fees were paid?

Because you are only allowed to redo a year/start again once.

For example

year 1 pass
year 2 fail
year 2 pass
year 3 pass

However

Year 1 fail
Year 1 fail
no more government funding

If you left the course before christmas then funding should still be available.

Thats why they tell you to leave before the Christmas break as the tuition fees are paid straight afterwards.

[Mark1012]

Studio117 said:

Re Government finance:

Did you quit before the first term fees were paid?

Because you are only allowed to redo a year/start again once.

For example

year 1 pass
year 2 fail
year 2 pass
year 3 pass

However

Year 1 fail
Year 1 fail
no more government funding

If you left the course before christmas then funding should still be available.

Thats why they tell you to leave before the Christmas break as the tuition fees are paid straight afterwards.

I will ring student finance Monday and see what they say thanks

[mollymoo]

davepoth said:

Loan companies are only going to assess on your ability to repay, not your ability to finish the course - they aren't especially bothered about that.

The Student Loans Company aren't a normal commercial lender. The criteria are rather different.

Last I looked you get one year on top of the length of your course for a qualification at a particular level (e.g. bachelor's degree). So, you can afford to do one year and drop out, or you can afford to retake one year. Any more than that and you'll have to pay your own way up-front for part of the course. And that's all of the tuition fees, not just the part UK students whose education is subsidised have to pay back (the tuition part of the student loan, currently up to 9k per year). It could be more than the 9k per year subsidised tuition rate, plus your living costs, books etc.

[davepoth]

mollymoo said:

davepoth said:

Loan companies are only going to assess on your ability to repay, not your ability to finish the course - they aren't especially bothered about that.

The Student Loans Company aren't a normal commercial lender. The criteria are rather different.

Last I looked you get one year on top of the length of your course for a qualification at a particular level (e.g. bachelor's degree). So, you can afford to do one year and drop out, or you can afford to retake one year. Any more than that and you'll have to pay your own way up-front for part of the course. And that's all of the tuition fees, not just the part UK students whose education is subsidised have to pay back (the tuition part of the student loan, currently up to 9k per year). It could be more than the 9k per year subsidised tuition rate, plus your living costs, books etc.

He said "Finance Company's", I guessed he'd already been turned down by the SLC given the failed years so was looking at commercial lenders.

[Mark1012]

I have not tried going through SLC yet. Will try that if not successful then will give up on uni idea

[Josh Smith]

You could try a foundation degree which is only two years and then top up for one year to a bsc after to save some money. First two years will cost approx 6k and the last approx 9k. We offer one in motorsport engineering at bridgwater college and its a course run with oxford brookes. We also have a radical pr6 which is part of the practical element that competes at castle combe.

[Mark1012]

Josh Smith said:

You could try a foundation degree which is only two years and then top up for one year to a bsc after to save some money. First two years will cost approx 6k and the last approx 9k. We offer one in motorsport engineering at bridgwater college and its a course run with oxford brookes. We also have a radical pr6 which is part of the practical element that competes at castle combe.

Thanks but I dont think i will be able to get the finance to go back

[Mark1012]

thanks for the advice guys.

I rang student finance yesterday and I am entitled to one more year of loan, so if I do a two year course I have to pay for the first year and they will fund the second year.

That means I wont be going back to University.

[egomeister]

Mark1012 said:

thanks for the advice guys.

I rang student finance yesterday and I am entitled to one more year of loan, so if I do a two year course I have to pay for the first year and they will fund the second year.

That means I wont be going back to University.

If its something you really want to do, investigate the part time route - at least that way its pay as you go, and you are earning whilst studying.