There is nothing wrong about having the desire to go to college and earn a degree. However, the issue of money will always be there as a big hurdle for any student to overcome. Fortunately, hope comes in the form of Education grants & courses. Cash to help with your education can now be obtained through varied means.

Let us discuss the possibilities for those who are in the US and the UK. While the idea of students using grants and financial aid is the same for both countries, there are aspects that differ. Of course, the way that help for obtaining college degrees abroad and locally will differ greatly. Each of these cases is covered by different rules and conditions.

If you are a US citizen, the best way to get college education help is through the Federal Student Aid. The US Federal Government allocates approximately $130 billion for the FSA annually. This program provides help in the form of grants, student loans, and work study funds. Money that will be awarded to a student can be used for tuition fees, study materials, accommodation, and other supplies.

The Federal Government will have agreements with colleges and universities regarding the awarding of FSA grants. An interested individual must fill up the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. This will be forwarded to the appropriate state agencies which will then approve it and pass it on to the school that the individual indicated on the form. Once found qualified (i.e. courses available), the school will send an award letter to the individual. This letter contains all terms and agreements of the grant.

Grants may offset the cost of college education but it is obvious that there are some matters not covered by it. This is where government student loans will become useful. Unlike grants, these loans should be paid by the student. The good thing about such loans is that payment could be delayed, consolidated, deducted from taxes, or even forgiven. Of course, special terms apply here.

In the UK, the government has a program similar to that in the US. However, there are more factors that could be used in assessing the eligibility of those who will apply for college financial assistance. Some examples of such factors are the income-generation potential of a family, background, and location.

One of the best things about the UK is that aside from government programs, students can access lots of possible sources of financial assistance. These are often called Hidden Scholarship and Funding sources. Eligibility for assistance is based on criteria such as religion, memberships or affiliations of parents or relatives, and other similar factors.

College education is undoubtedly expensive. If one really wants to earn a degree, there are many ways of making sure this will happen. Grants and financial assistance programs offer hope for many students out there today.