“Would you like to go to university—and get paid for it? We have offers you can’t refuse—you can even earn while you learn—get £25K a year while you study! Isn’t that awesome?” You may have come across such nonsense while flitting through TikTok, reviewing your Facebook posts, or even browsing through your Instagram feed—these pathetic statements are everywhere—we cannot miss them—and I, for one, am sickened by the sight of them. Any form of education—I believe—is a privilege—especially free or subsidized education. We are fortunate to be living in a time and in an economy that enables us to access forms of education—whether it’s Further Education, Higher Education, or Postgraduate level education—with ease of access and with financial support. Statements such as the foregoing, used for marketing and promotional purposes, exhibit the shallow thinking and intentions of their purveyors, thereby demeaning—utterly and irrevocably—the true sense and essence of education. Who are the people behind these so- called student recruitment companies? Just pop in to visit one of them and you’ll soon see.
The ownership, staff, and their student counselors seldom possess any Further- or Higher Education themselves, and very rarely will you find them interested in education. Their purpose is to wheel and deal and get you into a university, at any cost, in order to secure their commission. This is irresponsible and unethical behavior, and it must stop—or be stopped. First of all, attending a university isn’t about ‘earning’ anything but a degree—or some other university level certificate or diploma. Secondly, the maintenance loan a student is offered when they enrol for their Higher Education is strictly funding to help with day-to-day costs, such as rent or food, while studying. It’s paid directly to the student. It’s only available to students studying an eligible undergraduate course. The typical maintenance loan is £3, 698 per quarter, which amounts to £14, 792 for one year of a degree course. This amount is paid to the student—via the university—in each year of their degree course—but there are a few caveats. Firstly, a student’s attendance must be at the acceptable level—usually this is in the region of 90%. Any absences must be reported in a timely manner along with evidence, i.e., doctor’s note or other documentary proof that an absence is justified. Secondly, all assignments, tests, and other given work or projects must be completed and submitted on time.
Students will not simply be ‘paid’ for missing classes, failing to submit work on time, and mustn’t expect to have a payment in their accounts every quarter for doing, well, nothing. It doesn’t work that way. This is a system that has been developed with the student in mind, to enable individuals who would like to pursue a Higher Education, but find themselves in dire straits, to access university level degrees, and be supported financially while they do so. As we all know, there are many genuine people out there who seek Government support in the form of Universal Credit and other benefits, who work—or who genuinely try to seek work—and who desperately want to improve their lives by entering a career but lack the conventional Higher Education to do so. Or parents—single or otherwise—who have familial responsibilities, and have to balance their parenting, childcare, and work while studying: Student Maintenance Loans are for such people. Student Maintenance Loans mustn’t be seen as some shallow incentive, they’re a genuine means to enable people to stay in Higher Education until they graduate. Let’s not lose sight of this, and let’s all try to correct our views on this, and challenge those who attempt to demean it. If you want to do a degree, it should be for the right reasons; not because you’re picking up a stipend every few months.
As for student recruitment companies: if you’re interested in going to university but lack the qualifications to get on to a degree, review and learn about the recruitment companies you go to before you approach them. Ask the staff there if they or the company owners ever went to university; if they say they did, ask to see their certificates—and their transcripts. If they refuse to provide them—walk. Don’t register with companies that lack the bona fides—especially those advertising a Higher Education and Student Maintenance Loans like they’re some buy one, get one free meal deal.
Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today. ―Malcolm X
I tweet at @iamhamidshahid and can be reached via email at hsk@suigeneristraining.co.uk
For more information on what my company does, you may view suigeneristraining.co.uk at your leisure.