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Student MoneySaving

Discuss tuition fees, student loans and grants here - and share MoneySaving deals, tips and tricks to help you spend less at university.

Advice for English student studying in Scotland
My daughter started studying at Edinburgh University this week and I have only just discovered she will be entitled to free NHS prescriptions and regular eye tests every 2 years now she’s living in Scotland. I was expecting to have to start paying for her once she reached 19 years old. That made me wonder what to about a…
Student finance loan profile changes
Has anyone else found that Student Finance England has changed its profiling of student maintenance loan payments? Child2 is starting next week profile with the larger payment in April 2023 and with the balance of two lower payments in Sept 2022 and Jan 2023 despite the accommodation fees profile being the opposite with…
Repeating a year
Hi My son failed 2 modules in his 1st year last year and has got his timetable which shows he has to repeat the year, those modules only. He has autism, receives disabled student support alongside PIP and I feel the uni have failed to support him. It has only been through very direct questioning I've found this out and now…
Student Loan musings……
Hi. Having got Covid recently i seem to be left with a bit of brain fog and dont seem able to think objectively about the student loan system. Hopefully someone could clear a few things up for me…. Basically my son has £40k inheritance to help pay his Uni fees and i am wondering whether he should pay for fees and…
Student placement
Hi daughter is 3rd year university but is in a placement year. Her placement is with a charity linked to a hospital so is not a wage earning placement. She gets the very basic loan as not at uni for this year. She will be travelling daily and already had first 5 weeks of train tickets booked. Her train fare has now doubled…
Student Loan, should my son borrow the maximum loan?
My eldest son is going to start university to study math at one of the best universities this year. He is offered the maximum loan for tuition fees and maintenance grants. I am able to help with his living cost. I wonder if he would be better off for him borrowing the maximum or just taking the tuition loan. If all goes…
Study abroad
My daughter is due to go to Austria to study abroad for a term. She would like to use a pre-paid debit card in order to avoid conversion fees. She will be making multiple transactions while she is there, some big (rent) and some small. Which card would be best as some of them have strict number of uses per month and then…
A-Level results warning: putting off uni until next year could cost £10,000s more
School leavers getting their A-Level results this week should be aware that deferring for a year means they'll be on the new student finance system coming in England in September 2023, and will repay their loan for a much longer period, potentially costing £10,000s more. Read the full story here. And if you haven’t…
Signed up for student studio apartment in Coventry - Now not going back next year
OK, Son signed a contract for a nice studio apartment in Coventry for his final year (this coming September). He now isn't going back in September - unfortunately he needs to take a year out . They are lovely studios, on campus. Can only be occupied by a student.…
Student loans - international or UK?
My son is a UK citizen, he has spent 2 years studying in Switzerland. Does Student loans now class him as an international student or UK student to be eligible for UK grants and loans? Universities in the UK can not advise on this as they do not know!
Parent of Student having issues with hire company of Graduation gown
Hi, I am looking for some advice regarding a graduation gown hire service my daughter has used. My daughter was due to graduate from the university after a two-year covid-related deferral and hired her gown and cap as expected. On the day of her graduation, she was very ill running a fever. She missed her graduation and…
Ineligible for Financial Assisstance from Student Finance Wales After Living Abroad (Belgium)
Hi, I've recently been accepted onto a Master's course at Sheffield Uni and went to apply for a postgraduate loan with Student Finance Wales and they've told me I am ineligible for assistance because I haven't been ordinarily resident in the UK for the last 3 years. I'm originally from Wales but have been living in Belgium…
Students - Year Abroad
My son is due to start his uni degree year abroad in September and I wondered which bank account would be best. He'll be studying for 4mths in Portugal & 3mths in France, then working for 4mths in Spain. He's currently with Santander. Does anyone know if you need a Spanish current account if you're working there??
Am I getting right amount of grant as it doesnt even cover my rent?
Hi hope some one can help last year i started a full time course in Chester the first 4 months i was going to to college from home but in the January I moved into student accommadation £120 a week all bills included i had 5k of my own money i only recieved 2 x £2250 poundish grants which barely covers rent . My parents are…
Help with childcare?
I'm a student nurse in Scotland on the open university pathway. I don't get a nursing bursary as my employer pays me for placements. I only deal with SAAS for DSA, my employer/the Scottish government pays my fees. My income is £21,777 pa when I'm on full pay (I've been on mat leave), husbands income is £40,057. I go back…
Recommendations for student loans for short term courses.
Any suggestions please? Thanks
Should I go to University as a mature student
Hi everyone. A while back I posted a thread asking the broad question of whether I should go to University or not. Long story short, I now must decide whether I should do an Access to HE Diploma and then head to University, or simply look for a job. In this current climate (pun intended :D ) I'm having mixed feelings. On…
Plan 1 Loan pay off or not
Ill try to keep it simple, My estimation at current loan, 03-06 £15k (Write off at 65) 07-08 £4k (Write off after 25 years) I probably pay off £500 a year and I'm 37yo. I'm self employed so earnings change but don't really have desire to earn much more in future. I could pay it off from my savings if wanted to. Question 1…
Student Finance income change
I am applying for my daughters student maintenance grant and they have asked for my tax year ending 20-21. This amount is £38500. However I had been laid off in June 2021 and only just found employment in March 2022. Due to being between jobs I have not received a P60 for the current year? and only earned approx. £10-11…
***Change of contract for new student house in Aug 22 - changes to gas/elec allowance*** Advice!!
I'm a parent of a student about to move in to a student house in August. Contract was signed in Dec 21. 9 students moving in together. They took out an unlimited gas/elec agreement with lettings agent. However in that time obviously gas/elec has risen. I'd like to know their rights. Can a letting agent change the policy…

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MSE News

Ofgem proposes new 'no standing charge' Price Cap – but Martin Lewis warns vulnerable customers need to be opted in or it won't work
Ofgem has today launched detailed proposals for a major shake up to its Energy Price Cap that dictates the price over 80% of homes in England, Scotland and Wales pay for their energy bills.
Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland to cut overdraft rates for millions but hike them for others – here's what's happening and full help
If you're a Lloyds, Halifax or Bank of Scotland current account holder, the interest rate you're charged for using your overdraft could change soon as part of a fees shake-up. The Lloyds Banking Group, which owns all three brands, says millions of its customers will pay less after the changes – but a "few" will pay more.
Warm Home Discount expansion confirmed with millions more eligible for the £150 top-up this winter – here's what we know
Around 2.7 million more low-income households, including 900,000 families with children, will become eligible for the £150 Warm Home Discount this winter, as the Government has confirmed it will remove the existing 'hard to heat' eligibility criteria. The extension has only been confirmed for winter 2025/26, with further changes possible for future years.
Martin Lewis: At last a chance to fix Council Tax flaws impacting millions – debt collection, difficulty challenging your band, discounts and more
Major flaws in the Council Tax system in England could finally be fixed in future, as the Government has launched a wide-ranging consultation to review hideous debt collection practices, the difficulty of challenging your band, the overly complex and horribly-named Severe Mental Impairment discount and more. MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis, who has long campaigned on these issues, shares his response and analysis.
Energy complaints to be dealt with more quickly and Energy Ombudsman to get new powers under Government plans
If you have a complaint about your energy firm, it may be resolved more quickly in future, as the Government has announced a raft of proposals to strengthen consumer protections in the energy market. The planned changes include giving the Energy Ombudsman new powers to force firms to comply with its decisions – but it's still very early days. Here's what we know so far.
Warm Home Discount expansion confirmed with millions more eligible for the £150 top-up this winter – here's what we know
Around 2.7 million more households, including 900,000 families with children, will become eligible for the £150 Warm Home Discount this winter, as the Government has confirmed it will remove the existing 'hard to heat' eligibility criteria. The extension has only been confirmed for winter 2025/26, with further changes possible for future years.
Base rate held at 4.25% – here's what it means and when it might be cut next
The Bank of England has held the base rate at 4.25%. Below we explain why, when it might be cut, plus what it means for your mortgage and savings.
Applied for South West Trains 'boundary fares' compensation? Act now to claim it
If you applied for compensation from South West Trains before the deadline in January 2025, you now need to provide your bank details to the claim administrator so it can be paid to you. Here's what you need to know.
Winter Fuel Payments to be reinstated for millions – Martin Lewis explains how it'll work, what it means and if it's an improvement
All State Pensioners in England and Wales will receive a Winter Fuel Payment this winter, though those who earn over £35,000 will see it clawed back through the tax system. It means nine million pensioners will get the £200 or £300 top-up. Here MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis shares his instant response and analysis, and we include answers to your key questions.

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Student MoneySaving

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