how do you live off student loans if it all goes on rent

glamgoldchic

If I did not have support from my parents I don't think I would be able to live. My grant just about covers my accommodation without anything left over to live on and I don't have time for a job during term time or in the holidays as I'm in 9-5 every day with lots of work outside, and in the holidays I have to do work experience.

It is possible though, and some people do it. Most unis give a bursary for people that are hard up. And to be honest if you fall above the means tested money margin you should be able to help your children with the costs

ashleydrollinson

The loans system is really unfair. For those who qualify for large loans and uni help it puts them in massive debt for those who dont qualify but parents cant afford to help them out - its a bad all round situation putting pressure on students and parents. On those who have rich parents - doesn't necessarily mean they will want to pay.

I think all university tutition should be free. Unfortunately the governments ridiculous target of having 50% of students going to university (even if it means a degree in surfing) has put an end to this dream being remotely possible.

The_One_Who

ashleydrollinson wrote: »

The loans system is really unfair. For those who qualify for large loans and uni help it puts them in massive debt for those who dont qualify but parents cant afford to help them out - its a bad all round situation putting pressure on students and parents. On those who have rich parents - doesn't necessarily mean they will want to pay.

I think all university tutition should be free. Unfortunately the governments ridiculous target of having 50% of students going to university (even if it means a degree in surfing) has put an end to this dream being remotely possible.

Do you want to pay yet more tax to fund this free education? A university education costs so much more than £3,500 per student, per year, especially for a science or medical degree. The tuition fees only really scratch the surface of the true costs.

melancholly

ashleydrollinson wrote: »

The loans system is really unfair. For those who qualify for large loans and uni help it puts them in massive debt for those who dont qualify but parents cant afford to help them out - its a bad all round situation putting pressure on students and parents. On those who have rich parents - doesn't necessarily mean they will want to pay.

I think all university tutition should be free. Unfortunately the governments ridiculous target of having 50% of students going to university (even if it means a degree in surfing) has put an end to this dream being remotely possible.

ok - i know that for many this will sound like a broken record:

the student loan is the best debt you will EVER have. yes it is a large total amount, but repayments are fixed to earnings, unlike any other loan. this means if you lose your job, you can stop paying it back. it also has the best rate of interest you can ever get, which means in real terms, your debt is not increasing.

the loans system enables students to go to university. i'd prefer all education to be free too - who wouldn't! i started uni only a couple of years in to fees being charged, knowing that people in the years above weren't paying. it wasn't very nice (to put it mildly). i realise fees are a lot higher now than they were then, but people who went to uni when i did didn't grow up expecting to pay them so it was a very large shock to the system all round!

when you see the difference in support between private and (some) state schools in terms of university admissions advice, it becomes painfully clear that without the increased government encouragement to get students to go to uni, lots of state school students wouldn't bother. these are bright, capable students who just don't come from a family background where HE is expected (which indeed it wasn't in my family, they just had a good income without having been to uni, but my school gave a lot of support).

50% is far too much and clearly a daft government policy, but the situation now gives access to people who never stood a chance 30 years ago. the old system was pretty flawed too and again, i cannot see why this whole debate is about one tiny proportion of students who are above an income threshold but get no parental help.


this whole arguement screams of the chattering classes feeling hard done by. the 'lets not give children from poor backgrounds any more help' line makes me think maggie never left power................ i hope i'm not the only one who is deeply concerned by this!

maybe all students should go off to uni and make the most of it, rather than looking around at someone who gets £15 a week more than them and feeling jealous.

silvercar

the loans system enables students to go to university.

The introduction of tuition fees is the primary reason that students from lower income families are discouraged from going to university.

this whole arguement screams of the chattering classes feeling hard done by. the 'lets not give children from poor backgrounds any more help' line

I thought this arguement was about some students not receiving enough help form parents or government.

If the government is so sure that the loans system is fair it could set up an appeal process, for those who feel they can prove that they can't afford to make a contribution to their child's HE.

Oldernotwiser

silvercar wrote: »

If the government is so sure that the loans system is fair it could set up an appeal process, for those who feel they can prove that they can't afford to make a contribution to their child's HE.

I would soooo love to be a fly on the wall for that sort of appeal;

"We can't afford to help little Mary with her living costs because we've no money left, having just come back from a holiday to Florida!"

Priceless!:rotfl: :rotfl:

System

I was in the same position OP, my parents earn just enough so that I didn't qualify for any grants, but not quite enough to fund me. They did start a savings account when I was born specifically for my education, so I was quite lucky in that respect. But I understand that not everyone thinks that far ahead when they have kids. After learning from personal experience, I do think it's best to plan ahead when you have kids, - I doubt it the SL system will get any better!

When my siblings and I moved out my parents rented our rooms out and used the money to help pay for our uni fees too. The only problem was that when I came home to visit sometimes my room would be occupied.

I also got a job, all unis have 1 month off at Christmas and Easter & 3 during summer. Plus 2 weeks 'half term'. So thats 5 months and 2 weeks of full time work, plus part time when you're not in lectures (which will only be a few hours per week). Don't listen to kids who say that they don't have time to work because they have to 'study', its not true. I knew people in medicine & law who worked long hours in part time jobs and got good degrees.

melancholly

silvercar wrote: »

The introduction of tuition fees is the primary reason that students from lower income families are discouraged from going to university.



I thought this arguement was about some students not receiving enough help form parents or government.

If the government is so sure that the loans system is fair it could set up an appeal process, for those who feel they can prove that they can't afford to make a contribution to their child's HE.

tution fees are, in my opinion, a bad idea. but without them, access couldn't be made wider without the money coming from elsewhere.... it's hardly an ideal situation, but it seems fairer to me to make those benefiting from the situation pay for it, rather than making everyone contribute more from general taxation. but that's just my view.

the idea of an appeals process is however, just daft. the more people that get employed in admin of the scheme, the less money there is to give to students.

and anyway, you can either try to get the system changed to help your daughter's particular circumstances, or you can find a way to make it work best for her. get onto her next year to apply for the access to learning fund in time - there are systems in place to help students, but only if they apply!!! since she didn't follow your advice to do that, maybe you should direct some of your frustration at the situation at her since she would have been given 'free' money to help had she applied. i'm not in any way trying to be rude, but get your daughter to work out a strict budget, encourage her to apply for any jobs going and to take whatever she can get.... you can go on and on about how unfair the situation is or you can do something to make it better. or let her learn from this year and treat her as an adult who, like so many of us, needs to cut outgoings and increase incomings.....

i can't see how this debate is going anywhere or will do anything to benefit your daughter. get her on MSE to see the cheapest ways to get bills and cook and how to get the best bank accounts. it's all so negative at the moment in this thread and the great thing about MSE is that people can help money to go further. a flat out arguement about who should get however much money won't make a difference to current students, but specific advice about how their situation can be made better can make a huge difference.

silvercar

melancholly wrote: »

the idea of an appeals process is however, just daft. the more people that get employed in admin of the scheme, the less money there is to give to students. The point is that if the government were so sure they had got it right there would be hardly any appeals, so admin costs would be small.

and anyway, you can either try to get the system changed to help your daughter's particular circumstances, or you can find a way to make it work best for her. get onto her next year to apply for the access to learning fund in time - there are systems in place to help students, but only if they apply!!! since she didn't follow your advice to do that, maybe you should direct some of your frustration at the situation at her since she would have been given 'free' money to help had she applied. i'm not in any way trying to be rude, but get your daughter to work out a strict budget, encourage her to apply for any jobs going and to take whatever she can get.... you can go on and on about how unfair the situation is or you can do something to make it better. or let her learn from this year and treat her as an adult who, like so many of us, needs to cut outgoings and increase incomings.....
You've not read my posts, where have I said my child is suffering? I can see things from situations that are not my own. I can see that there are some families not able to help their children as much as the state assumes they can. These are the students that will suffer.

i can't see how this debate is going anywhere or will do anything to benefit your daughter. The debate is about discussing the current funding. Otherwise the answer is obvious get a job or drop out.get her on MSE to see the cheapest ways to get bills and cook and how to get the best bank accounts. it's all so negative at the moment in this thread and the great thing about MSE is that people can help money to go further. a flat out arguement about who should get however much money won't make a difference to current students, but specific advice about how their situation can be made better can make a huge difference. Its not a question of "I'm OK, so I don't care." I know some will disagree, but I have made a decision to support my child. I'm acknowledging that there are some students who won't survive at uni due to lack of support from government and parents unable to support.

:confused:

melancholly

sorry - confused you and kellogg36!

either way, the debate is going nowhere and i think moving towards more practical solutions will actually have some benefit to students.