Financial Support GEP..none at all??Surely not!

**Still Dreaming** · 08-08-2007, 03:15 PM

I am 23 and starting on the grad course in Sept and as always I've left things until the last minute. I just rang student finance and was told that I was not eligable for any sort of financial aid.

I was aware that I am not allowed the usual student loan but surely there must be some support available from somewhere????

Any advice would be much appreciated, if not busking round tooting might be an alternative option for me........

**Dick Cheney** · 08-08-2007, 03:54 PM

You are not eligible for a student loan if you already have a degree, except for some vocational courses leading to a professional qualification such as medicine and architecture. This is a common mistake made by the student loans people. Get on the blower to them.

You are eligible for 2 sources of funding: an NHS bursary and a student loan.

The non-repayable NHS bursary covers years 2,3,4; in addition to paying your tuition fees, it provides around £ 3k per year.

The repayable student loan provides around £ 6k for year 1 and around £ 3k for years 2,3,4.

**BarneyB** · 08-08-2007, 03:55 PM

Hey Still Dreaming

I am starting the GEP in Sept too, and my LEA have told me I am eligible for the maintenance loan, but not tuition fee loan. NHS means-tested bursaries kick in after yr 1 too. I think medicine is one of the few exceptions to the rule of "no 2nd student loan". I would phone them again, or apply on-line at www.studentsupportdirect.co.uk - that's what I did...

All the best!