International Nesties
Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Studying in EU, esp. UK
A girl from my BMB just graduated with her BA, and spent a semester abroad during that time. She is toying with returning to Europe for her master's. Of course, having a baby complicates the situation a bit, and she feels like she would need to work alongside her studies. I think it is something she should look into if she's really interested, but realistically, I know it wouldn't be super easy. I remember from study abroad that you couldn't work on a student visa, and also know here, a full time MA program is truly full time. Does anyone know if she came here to study, particularly the UK, if she would qualify for benefits, especially having a child? I suggested she talk to her university's study abroad office, but is there anywhere else I could send her to get some info. I didn't want to send her over here, because I'm a little afraid she would come across as one of those "I want to live in Europe" people, and she kind of is, but also kind of not. If she could find some sort of scholarship, would she have to prove that she had enough money before entering the UK?
Any advice would really be appreciated!
Warning
No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
Re: Studying in EU, esp. UK
I am by far an expert but I am under the impression that if you are a foreign student at a recognised Uni then you can work part-time (but not full-time) and you definitely do not qualify for any sort of benefits (you do get access to the NHS but not child benefits or anything like that).
Also foreign students pay a whole lot more tuition than UK or EU students so I would imagine she would find it very difficult to get a scholarship. I'm not sure how easy it would be to get student loans in the US to attend a foreign instituition.
And yes a full time Masters programme is truly full time, especially around exan time!
I can offer some advice on this as I was in the UK on a student visa in 2010-2011. PP is correct that you are allowed to work on a student visa, but it's 20 hours during term time and full time during holidays/breaks. Note that dissertation writing period (not attending classes) is considered term time, so capped at 20.
It was pretty easy, actually. I filled out the FAFSA and the uni took care of most of it behind the scenes, as American universities do. And yes, she'd have to look at the foreign student tuition price, which isn't cheap. Scholarships aren't impossible I'm sure, but I don't imagine they are plentiful or easy to get. Unless she's in a specific engineering/science field (unlikely as you said BA) I personally would rule that out completely. So student loans it is.
In my year federal loans were capped at $20,500 USD which just barely covered my tuition. Luckily we had savings to live off of, but keep in mind that would have to come from somewhere (private loans, savings). I also assume when Americans say "UK" they mean "London" so cost of living is going to be killer.
You suggested she talk to her university study abroad office. I don't know how much they could do if she's looking to do an entire degree abroad (as opposed to a sojourn abroad from a local degree). If she's looking to take the full degree abroad she may be on her own.
Regardless of how she's funding it, she has to prove she's got enough money to support her and her dependants for the duration of their stay, in order to get a visa. The more dependants = the more money she'd have to have to get visas approved. I think a spouse can work while there on a spouse-of-a-student-visa (Tofu correct me if I'm wrong). The UK economy is a right mess, though. Important to remember.
I've looked up some numbers.
First off, Tier 4 (General) students, as they are called, can bring a partner (unmarried and same sex included) and children under 18.
The applicant would have to prove they have ?800 per month (up to 9 months) if attending in London (?7,200 total) or ?600 per month (up to 9 months) if studying elsewhere in the UK (?5,400 total).
Each dependent would have to show ?533 per month (up to 9 months) in London or ?400 per month (up to 9 months) everywhere else. Assuming a partner and child that's a total of ?9,594 in London or ?7,200 elsewhere.
So this family of 3 would have to show ?16,794 in London or ?12,600 everywhere else, just to be granted a visa. That's USD $26,400 and $19,807 at the current exchange rate.
Now, I really have no idea if this has to be cash in the bank, or if it could be a loan promise, or actual cash-in-hand loan. This is of course on top of the visa application fee, which is ?255 per person. Which is also not counting tuition, which I'd reckon is between ?10,000 and ?20,000 depending on program and location.
So yeah...we're talking big money here.
Tier 4 students can bring their dependents if they are studying at a public institution and on a course of level 7 or above only. So, a Masters at a public institution.
The ?800/month for maintenance is for the main applicant only, and this is going to go up in April, though they haven't said how much yet. It is currently that plus ?533 for each dependent, but that may increase in April as well.
Wise Rita's monthly calculations are correct, although it cannot be a loan. It must be cash in bank, or in parent's bank.
Big money, yes.
As well, the only "benefit" she would qualify for is NHS. No child benefit, no working tax benefit, etc. She could only work for 20 hours/week during term time and full time during holidays, but her husband could work full time, so that could be a means to support themselves.
Chronically hilarious - you'll split your stitches!
I wrote a book! Bucket list CHECK!
http://notesfortheirtherapist.blogspot.co.uk
Hello! I'm a master's student in London, on a Tier 4 Visa. You can in fact work on your student visa- 20 hrs/week during term time, full time during vacations (breaks between terms and during the summer). As a MA/MSc/PhD student you can bring your dependents, but you have to prove that you can support them financially.
The drawback is how expensive master's programs are. It's nearly impossible to get funding as a US student, so you have to either take out student loans in the US or figure out another way to pay. You have to pay up front, too, and prove when you submit your visa application that you have the funding to pay your tuition. It's not easy.
That said, master's programs are generally 3 classes per semester. Coming from a US undergrad institution, this wasn't too bad (for me. Will probably be different for other people/other programs). I have classes three days a week, which leaves two days free to work (and evenings, if necessary).
Sorry for the essay. TL;DR: it's possible, she could work, classes aren't too bad.
ETA: Just saw wise_rita's response. She's right, it is big money, it's certainly easier when you don't have dependents, that adds a lot to the cost. And loan promises don't count, has to be the actual loan.
I have nothing new to add. I went to grad school in the UK, I had to submit my parents bank statements, had access to the NHS and could only work part time(though I didn't).
It sounds like you're friend is idealistic but not thinking it through or being realistic, especially with a baby.
I wonder if that would fly if you had dependants.
Chronically hilarious - you'll split your stitches!
I wrote a book! Bucket list CHECK!
http://notesfortheirtherapist.blogspot.co.uk