Back to education allowance , BTEA , help!

rml20131

Hey guys I'm a bit stressed worrying about this whole btea dilemma, basically in 2013/2013 I did an NVQ level 3 course in beauty therapy and was recieving btea allowance for it. But the entire time I was doing it I had wished I had done a healthcare course instead.

When I completed my beauty I signed back on job seekers and applied for a fas course in healthcare support and was successful in my application, completed 6 months of the course and ended up becoming extremely ill and was forced to leave it early on medical grounds.

When I left I was told I would have to apply for supplementary welfare allowance as I wasn't well enough for job seekers. At the start of summer I applied for a place on a new healthcare course which will get me into nursing and immediate employment which is a Btec level 3 extended national diploma in health sciences, I've now applied for btea and I'm absolutely praying I don't get rejected because I just won't be able to afford to go to college if I don't receive any money

Does anyone have any idea if I'll just be told no straight away for having a previous level 3 qualification? Or will they take into account my circumstances with being ill and having to leave my fas course? And also does anyone know is there any chance a btec level 3 is higher than an nvq level 3?

Literally any help at all will be appreciated I'm so so worried!

paperclip2

Its a bit complicated OP but have a look here: http://www.qualrec.ie/uk.html

I think a NVQ level 3 is similar to a FETAC level 5 and a BTEC level 3 is mapped onto A levels which according to QQI, is also similar to a FETAC level 5 / Leaving cert.

The BTEC level 4 & 5 qualifications (also known as HNC/ HND) are equated to the HETAC & FETAC level 6 courses.

See last paragraph in this document:http://www.qualrec.ie/documents/HND_001.pdf

More detailed info here: http://www.qualrec.ie/documents/CB_CQF2013_green_web.pdf

rml20131

Thank you so much! I'm going to read through it now!