Entitled to nothing, help!

fionav3

Does anyone know if the credit union and banks are still giving out student loans? Just found out that I won't be able to claim tax back on my fees because I have no tax credits (haven't worked in 20 months) and as I already have a degree, I'm entitled to nothing; no grant, no BTEA. My fees are €7334 a year and all I've managed to save on the dole is €2000 which doesn't even cover the first installment. I really, REALLY don't want to have to defer for a year because the idea of another year on the dole makes me want to jump off a cliff! (and I'm only half joking :cool:) I can't do another year in this god awful limbo and there is just no work out there. Do you think I stand a chance of getting a student loan?

spaceylou

If you have been on the dole are you not entitled to some sort of back to education allowance?

As first point of call try your social welfare office and also citizen advice bureau, and dept of education - either in person or their websites.

Hope it works out!

Annasopra

fionav3 wrote: »

Does anyone know if the credit union and banks are still giving out student loans? Just found out that I won't be able to claim tax back on my fees because I have no tax credits (haven't worked in 20 months) and as I already have a degree, I'm entitled to nothing; no grant, no BTEA. My fees are €7334 a year and all I've managed to save on the dole is €2000 which doesn't even cover the first installment. I really, REALLY don't want to have to defer for a year because the idea of another year on the dole makes me want to jump off a cliff! (and I'm only half joking :cool:) I can't do another year in this god awful limbo and there is just no work out there. Do you think I stand a chance of getting a student loan?

Yes try the credit union and ask the college about the college about the student assistance fund and the vincent de paul and your local partnership organisation

fionav3

spaceylou wrote: »

If you have been on the dole are you not entitled to some sort of back to education allowance?

As first point of call try your social welfare office and also citizen advice bureau, and dept of education - either in person or their websites.

Hope it works out!

Tried social welfare and the education officer wouldn't even speak to me on the phone because I already have a degree. And because I haven't been working I'm not entitled to tax back on my fees. I'm screwed whatever way I turn.

Johnnymcg wrote: »

Yes try the credit union and ask the college about the college about the student assistance fund and the vincent de paul and your local partnership organisation

Thanks Johnny. And what do you mean by local partnership organisation?

theg81der

I don`t understand if your moving from a level 8 to another level 8 - why? If your moving on to level 9 your entitled to apply for BTEA. Think theres also a European fund for hard cases look it up maybe. Speak to the college you might find they could help.

Annasopra

fionav3 wrote: »

Tried social welfare and the education officer wouldn't even speak to me on the phone because I already have a degree. And because I haven't been working I'm not entitled to tax back on my fees. I'm screwed whatever way I turn.



Thanks Johnny. And what do you mean by local partnership organisation?

an organisation similar to Bray Partnership or Fingal Leader Partnership

fionav3

theg81der wrote: »

I don`t understand if your moving from a level 8 to another level 8 - why? If your moving on to level 9 your entitled to apply for BTEA. Think theres also a European fund for hard cases look it up maybe. Speak to the college you might find they could help.

My original degree is English and even with a masters and phd, I wouldn't be able to find employment (like one of my college lectures told me, I'm basically waiting for someone to die). It was an interesting degree but utterly impractical and even before the recession hit, I couldn't find work that's why I'm moving to another level 8. I would like to get a halfway decent job from my studies. And thanks for the advice, I'll check onto both of those options.

Johnnymcg wrote: »

an organisation similar to Bray Partnership or Fingal Leader Partnership

Thank you.

theg81der

But are you not looking at a Higher Diploma so it takes lesss time and appreciates what you`ve already done. Also look into Government skills conversion courses which are funded, although not sure to what degree, for people with level 8s.

fionav3

theg81der wrote: »

But are you not looking at a Higher Diploma so it takes lesss time and appreciates what you`ve already done. Also look into Government skills conversion courses which are funded, although not sure to what degree, for people with level 8s.

Tried two years running to get onto the higher diploma in Galway with no success and Cork and Dublin are too far to travel (I'm not in a position to move) so I had to look at undergrads. Believe me, a hdipp would have made things sooooooooooooooo much easier!

snubbleste

fionav3 wrote: »

Tried two years running to get onto the higher diploma in Galway with no success and Cork and Dublin are too far to travel (I'm not in a position to move) so I had to look at undergrads. Believe me, a hdipp would have made things sooooooooooooooo much easier!

Does'nt have to be a HDip/Pgde in education. I think what theg81der is saying is that HDips are degree conversion courses to other disciplines, from Arts to IT, from Science to Business..

fionav3

snubbleste wrote: »

Does'nt have to be a HDip/Pgde in education. I think what theg81der is saying is that HDips are degree conversion courses to other disciplines, from Arts to IT, from Science to Business..

Yeah but I don't want to do a hDip in just anything (kinda defeats the purpose of going back and doing what I really want to do), I want to do it in Psychology. I'm aiming to become a clinical psychologist.

Yag reuoY

fionav3 wrote: »

My original degree is English and even with a masters and phd, I wouldn't be able to find employment (like one of my college lectures told me, I'm basically waiting for someone to die). It was an interesting degree but utterly impractical and even before the recession hit, I couldn't find work that's why I'm moving to another level 8. I would like to get a halfway decent job from my studies. And thanks for the advice, I'll check onto both of those options.



Thank you.

Do a TEFL course and get a teaching job.

fionav3

Yag reuoY wrote: »

Do a TEFL course and get a teaching job.

Have several friends with a TEFL qualification who can't get work, not to mention two friends who are qualified primary teachers; one is unemployed and the other is working in a shoe shop. And I know of more people than I can count who are going back to do teaching. This country already has a surplus of teachers and its only going to get harder to find employment in that area.

Yag reuoY

fionav3 wrote: »

Have several friends with a TEFL qualification who can't get work, not to mention two friends who are qualified primary teachers; one is unemployed and the other is working in a shoe shop. And I know of more people than I can count who are going back to do teaching. This country already has a surplus of teachers and its only going to get harder to find employment in that area.

If you're only going to look for work in Ireland I really have no sympathy for you. It's time to broaden your horizons and seek employment abroad.

fionav3

Yag reuoY wrote: »

If you're only going to look for work in Ireland I really have no sympathy for you. It's time to broaden your horizons and seek employment abroad.

Right. And every person in this country who can't find work is in a position to go abroad. :rolleyes: I am not in a position to go abroad for personal reasons that I have no intention of going into.

Yag reuoY

fionav3 wrote: »

Right. And every person in this country who can't find work is in a position to go abroad. :rolleyes: I am not in a position to go abroad for personal reasons that I have no intention of going into.

Enjoy the dole queue then. :pac:

Annasopra

Yag reuoY wrote: »

Enjoy the dole queue then. :pac:

No need to be so sarky