Loans for online courses
15 November 2012
Students who want to study for their degree online are able to get tuition fee loans for the first time, thanks to changes to student funding.
This autumn’s intake of distance learners are the first to benefit from the changes. They will be able to secure upfront tuition fee loans to cover the entire cost of their degree course, only repaying the cost of their learning when they have completed their studies and are earning more than £21,000 a year.
Amy Tillotson, a thirty year old working mum from Doncaster, is one of the first distance learners to benefit from the changes. She said: “I’ve wanted to do a psychology degree for ages and knew it would help in my job. I actually registered with RDI two years ago but with two young children and a mortgage to pay, even the lower cost of a distance learning degree was too much of a financial stretch.
"I can keep working, look after my son and daughter, and really boost my professional knowledge and career prospects - this is such a huge opportunity for me"
“That’s why I was so excited to hear about the funding changes. I applied straight away and start my degree at the end of this month (October). I can keep working, look after my son and daughter, and really boost my professional knowledge and career prospects - this is such a huge opportunity for me.”
RDI believe Amy is a prime example of the individuals likely to benefit most from the changes. Dr Phil Hallam said: “There will be so many people, like Amy, that have been forced to put their learning ambitions on hold purely because of finances. That’s why it is so important that word gets out about these funding changes and why RDI is working to raise awareness of the opportunities now open to distance learners.”
University degrees studied by distance learning, such as those offered by RDI, cost just £8,995 – a third of the £27,000 tuition fee price tag attached to traditional campus based university degree courses. This saving combined with the tuition loan changes means there is increased demand for distance learning is a trend that looks set to continue.
