Student Loan for Msc @ UCL Advice!

[ironictwist]

Hola boys & girls,

Not for me unfortunately but a close girlfriend of mine has been accepted at UCL. She's a post grad, 22, looking to do another stint at uni. Her chosen course is an "Msc Government, policy & politics"

Now me being the illiterate fool that I am, I have no clue how she can get astudent loan for this.

I believe she's tried all the mainstream routes...But I honestly don't know what all the mainstream routes are as I didn't bother with Uni!

She recently realised where she was originally planning to apply for the loan only supply loans for vocational courses so she's now rather stumped.

So rather than have her lose heart in putting together 6k (3k travel, 3k course fee's)...I want to try & help her get to do what she REALLY wants to do.

Any ideas of sources of finance for her? Aside from working which she is already.

Thanks in advance!

[DrTre]

She's been turned down for a Career Development Loan?


The course doesn’t necessarily have to lead to a qualification, but it must be one that will help with your career. You’ll find detailed information in the application pack, but in general a Professional and Career Development Loan could be an option for:

* a postgraduate course, like a masters

Edited by DrTre on Wednesday 23 September 14:40

[Merry]

You cant get get a student loan in the traditional sense. She'll probably have no joy getting a loan from the banks either. The only way is to raise the money yourself or get some form of scholarship. There is a lot of competition for these.


Tough but thats the way it is - speaking from experience.

[rhinochopig]

With that MSc. why doesn't she just apply direct to McDonalds and save herself a year and 15k costs.

[louiebaby]

I got a loan from HSBC for doing my masters...

Paid it off early too, which was nice. Not sure what they called it, but might be worth a try.

[Merry]

rhinochopig said:

With that MSc. why doesn't she just apply direct to McDonalds and save herself a year and 15k costs.

Because she might have an interest in the subject or want to get into Politics? An MSc will look better on paper than a BSc? To do something useful over the year, given the current job market? May even want to teach Politics at Uni.

Just because it isn't maths/science/engineering/law/economics doesn't make it instantly useless you know

[ironictwist]

DrTre said:

She's been turned down for a Career Development Loan?


The course doesn’t necessarily have to lead to a qualification, but it must be one that will help with your career. You’ll find detailed information in the application pack, but in general a Professional and Career Development Loan could be an option for:

* a postgraduate course, like a masters

Edited by DrTre on Wednesday 23 September 14:40

She got turned down for this I've just had confirmed! Apparently because it's only available for "vocational" courses. To be fair I don't understand the word vocational in this context...But if I said that the course is a course she was planning to do in the evenings anyway...Then i think that clarifys this course as a non vocational one, correct?

[DrTre]

ironictwist said:

She got turned down for this I've just had confirmed! Apparently because it's only available for "vocational" courses. To be fair I don't understand the word vocational in this context...But if I said that the course is a course she was planning to do in the evenings anyway...Then i think that clarifys this course as a non vocational one, correct?

She needs to ring the number on the site (assuming she hasn't already), it's nothing to do with vocational courses as that direct quote states, however, it being a part-time Masters MAY have some impact.

[ironictwist]

Merry said:

You cant get get a student loan in the traditional sense. She'll probably have no joy getting a loan from the banks either. The only way is to raise the money yourself or get some form of scholarship. There is a lot of competition for these.

Tough but thats the way it is - speaking from experience.

What's normally entailed in getting a scholarship...Is it a case of just applying for it? Being interviewed?

louiebaby said:

I got a loan from HSBC for doing my masters...

Paid it off early too, which was nice. Not sure what they called it, but might be worth a try.

I'll ask but I believe her credit rating isn't especially impressive. When did you nab yours?

[ironictwist]

DrTre said:

ironictwist said:

She got turned down for this I've just had confirmed! Apparently because it's only available for "vocational" courses. To be fair I don't understand the word vocational in this context...But if I said that the course is a course she was planning to do in the evenings anyway...Then i think that clarifys this course as a non vocational one, correct?

She needs to ring the number on the site (assuming she hasn't already), it's nothing to do with vocational courses as that direct quote states, however, it being a part-time Masters MAY have some impact.

Brilliant...I'll pass it on. I hope it helps!

Thanks!

[rhinochopig]

Merry said:

rhinochopig said:

With that MSc. why doesn't she just apply direct to McDonalds and save herself a year and 15k costs.

Because she might have an interest in the subject or want to get into Politics? An MSc will look better on paper than a BSc? To do something useful over the year, given the current job market? May even want to teach Politics at Uni.

Just because it isn't maths/science/engineering/law/economics doesn't make it instantly useless you know

The post was tongue-in-cheek. Have you never heard the joke? "What do you say to someone with a politics degree?" "BigMac and Fries please!"

On that subject though, I do happen to believe that politics as a degree subject is one of the reasons why our politicians are so crap. I'd rather have someone who is trained in the subject/industry/sector they're minister for, then some highly polished spin machine running the department.

[Merry]

rhinochopig said:

Merry said:

rhinochopig said:

With that MSc. why doesn't she just apply direct to McDonalds and save herself a year and 15k costs.

Because she might have an interest in the subject or want to get into Politics? An MSc will look better on paper than a BSc? To do something useful over the year, given the current job market? May even want to teach Politics at Uni.

Just because it isn't maths/science/engineering/law/economics doesn't make it instantly useless you know

The post was tongue-in-cheek. Have you never heard the joke? "What do you say to someone with a politics degree?" "BigMac and Fries please!"

On that subject though, I do happen to believe that politics as a degree subject is one of the reasons why our politicians are so crap. I'd rather have someone who is trained in the subject/industry/sector they're minister for, then some highly polished spin machine running the department.

No, I dont have a sense of humour.

But seriously a Politics degree does not teach you spin etc.

• edit Yeah a scholarship usually involves that. You may need to submit examples of work too, such as your dissertation.

Edited by Merry on Wednesday 23 September 15:08

[ironictwist]

ironictwist said:

DrTre said:

ironictwist said:

She got turned down for this I've just had confirmed! Apparently because it's only available for "vocational" courses. To be fair I don't understand the word vocational in this context...But if I said that the course is a course she was planning to do in the evenings anyway...Then i think that clarifys this course as a non vocational one, correct?

She needs to ring the number on the site (assuming she hasn't already), it's nothing to do with vocational courses as that direct quote states, however, it being a part-time Masters MAY have some impact.

Brilliant...I'll pass it on. I hope it helps!

Thanks!

Ok, she rang them earlier.

The lady on the other end stated as it's not a vocational course it's a no go

So I guess that simply leaves scholarship/working for the funds?

[DrTre]

ironictwist said:

Ok, she rang them earlier.

The lady on the other end stated as it's not a vocational course it's a no go

So I guess that simply leaves scholarship/working for the funds?

WTF?

Just rang them myself and whoever she spoke to hasn't got a clue.

I said it was a PT Masters in politics over 2 years in the evening and that was fine. Final decision rests with the bank(s) but as long as you can show it improves your career prospects there is no restriction

[ironictwist]

DrTre said:

ironictwist said:

Ok, she rang them earlier.

The lady on the other end stated as it's not a vocational course it's a no go

So I guess that simply leaves scholarship/working for the funds?

WTF?

Just rang them myself and whoever she spoke to hasn't got a clue.

I said it was a PT Masters in politics over 2 years in the evening and that was fine. Final decision rests with the bank(s) but as long as you can show it improves your career prospects there is no restriction

Give me a minute! Im gonna try it too!

[jerwatt]

I presume she has already done so, but has she approached UCL about funding? Another place to go is companies that might be interested in employing her after, you'd probably get told no, but might be worth trying if she's desperate.

[ironictwist]

ironictwist said:

DrTre said:

ironictwist said:

Ok, she rang them earlier.

The lady on the other end stated as it's not a vocational course it's a no go

So I guess that simply leaves scholarship/working for the funds?

WTF?

Just rang them myself and whoever she spoke to hasn't got a clue.

I said it was a PT Masters in politics over 2 years in the evening and that was fine. Final decision rests with the bank(s) but as long as you can show it improves your career prospects there is no restriction

Give me a minute! Im gonna try it too!

You're right...I've confirmed with them it's no problem too! Given her a call & told her to give them a ring & apply anyway!

Thanks DT...Really appreciate the help & persistence

PH to the rescue!

[DrTre]

Glad I could help...although, God forbid I've helped create another politician

[BoRED S2upid]

If she wants a career in Politics and god knows why you would then she needent waste her time doing that course tell her to pick a party, any party they are all the same and sign up. Donate some time, become a busy body, get on the local council and she will be flying. How many people would prefer to vote for a 22 year old woman rather than a retired policeman or the likes?.

Politics is easy you become a local councilor then move up the ranks.