-
Pre 1998 loan. Cancel after 25 years?
Hi I have 3 student loans from my university course. Taken out 1997, 1998 and then 2000 (I didn't get one for my 3rd year) I think they must be soon coming up to the point when the get cancelled. I'm a part time nurse so never been paid enough to have made any payments on them at all. My boss has recently offered me some…
-
Maintenance loan or universal credit?
I am going back to education to get my degree that I put off whilst raising children. I am currently on universal credit with my husband working full time, so the UC makes up the difference. I am wondering if it would be better financially in the long term to stay on UC whilst studying or apply for a maintenance loan. What…
-
Single parent, loan and UC
I'm a single parent who rents their home. I have a disability and receive PIP. I'm want to try and return to education and was advised I could apply to SAAS and that the housing element, child element and disability element of my Universal Credit wouldn't be affected if I took out the student loan - they also said I may as…
-
Jumpstart University - free courses to help students get ready for uni
The OU and Russell Group have put together a collection of free courses, activities and articles to help students get ready to start uni. It's called Jumpstart University - take a look. We were chuffed to see MSE's Academy of Money first on the list.
-
Saving for Masters study - What type of savings account should I use?
Hey everyone, I'm a recent uni graduate (this year) who is taking a year out of education before starting a masters in 2022. At the moment, I'm looking for the best type of savings account for me to use so I can save as much money as possible to help with living and education costs. I'm working while living at home, so I'd…
-
HSBC student account - NI students not eligible for £80 reward
Yet again NI citizens treated as second class. To open HSBC student account you must be UK resident (an NI residents are) but when it comes to £80 reward NI students are excluded. If you are a NI resident, need a student account and want an incentive don’t go to HSBC.
-
Student Masters loan for OU
Hi, I've just paid for the first part of my OU Creative Writing Masters. I am confused as to wether to apply for part time or full time as year 1 is 60 credits and year 2 is 120 credits. I am ADHD so I shall be applying for DSA too. As you can imagine the uncertainty is unsettling. Please let me know your opinions
-
MSE News: Student loan interest rates set to drop in September – what you need to know
Student loan interest rates are set to drop for many students from September. Current students in England and Wales, for example, can expect to see the interest rate they're charged fall from 5.6% to 4.5%. Meanwhile, many former students with outstanding loans will likely see their rates dip too – though the changes are…
-
Erudio Deferment
I’ve been deferring my loans from 97 and 98 for some time now because I’ve never went over the threshold. However, deferment has come around again and I’ve found that I’m now over the threshold due to working overtime through Covid/isolations. Does anybody know if exceptions are made due to extraordinary circumstances or…
-
Council Tax for students
Hi all, I'm a student who recently graduated and I'm unsure when/if I should notify the council that I'm no longer a student. For context, my father is disabled and does not work, my mother was forced to quit her job and become his personal career. I know my mother pays council tax but my father is exempt, not sure how or…
-
Financial support for student on non grant course
Hi my Granddaughter has been offered a place at a respected Drama college in London. Unfortunately this is a non government funded course, therefore non UCAS course which means no funding not even a student bank account. She cannot live a home and commute as the distance is too great so she will near maintenance also. At…
-
Studying Abroad Travel Insurance
Hi, I am just wondering if anyone could help with or suggest a lower cost appropriate travel insurance for studying at college in America for the next 4 years? The usual annual travel insurance products are not really fit for purpose as there is a limit to the number of days abroad. The backpacker ones also are not as they…
-
Plan 2 student loan of only 9k should it be repayed early?
Hi, my daughter has a student loan on plan 2 of what was originally 9k as she was a midwifery student who was lucky enough to have a bursary and no uni fees. now she has been paying it back for a few years and looks at her statement, even though she has paid at least 3k back because of interest she has hardly reduced…
-
Part time income
Hi there, i have a part time job i will keep after starting uni in September, does this affect my maintenance grant entitlement? or is it just my parents income that counts? I make about 8k a year.
-
Martin Lewis: Student Loans Decoded | Discussion thread
This thread is for discussing Martin's Student Loans Decoded guide, including: * Watch the video here * Resources for teachers
-
Scottish student studying in england
Hi there. My daughter is 17 and is moving from Scotland to Bristol to do a college course at bipa before applying for a 3 yr honours next year she has applied for bursary .is she entitled to any other benefits . E.g.. universal credit. Housing benefit . She wiĺ be renting a room in house for next 4 years . Thankyou .bev xx
-
MSE News: Students urged to apply for uni funding NOW if they plan to get a place via 'clearing'
Prospective university and college students who plan to go through a process known as 'clearing' to get onto a course should not wait for their exam results before applying for student finance. The Student Loans Company (SLC) says people should instead apply as soon as possible. Read the full story: 'Students urged to…
-
New student - Student bank account when is overdraft available?
Hi. Asking for daughter's friend who has a degree offer for a drama school. Many drama schools don't have halls so instead students stay in private lets. This requires a deposit upfront, which is money that friend doesn't have until the student loan comes though. I understand on A levels result day, friend can open up a…
-
Multiple Maintenance grant/loans same household
Hi - I'm hoping somebody could provide me with some info or possibly point me in the right direction. I am starting a course with Open University this September (living in Wales) and have applied for my student loan and maintenance grant/loan to help with living costs. I'm living away from home with a flatmate. Now my…
-
Student loan application pension contributions/benefit in kind
Could anyone advise if the income figure on your P60 has already taken into account your pension contributions? Do you put that figure as your income to support your child's finance application or do you reduce it by your pension contributions? Hubby has a company car can anyone confirm the "cash equivalent" figure on his…
