Help With Student Loans - HERE!

herrprentler

okay thanks - appreciate your help - and clearly ive misunderstood what is on offer with loans etc
One question though, when we hear politicians saying that anyone can get through uni on a student loan - are they deliberately misleading us ?

arsenalbarnie

herrprentler wrote: »

okay thanks - appreciate your help - and clearly ive misunderstood what is on offer with loans etc
One question though, when we hear politicians saying that anyone can get through uni on a student loan - are they deliberately misleading us ?

They always seem to say no one needs to pay up front, but qualify that by meaning the tuition fees. This I feel is misleading. They obviously assume given your income you can afford to make up the difference. My feelings are why can't they just lend everyone what they estimate is enough in maintenance loan to manage without having to depend on their parents generosity? You may have debts, commitments that don't make it possible to help them out. Or you may not feel like being a generous parent for one reason or another. We are in the same boat as you. What are others thoughts on this I wonder. I expect I am in the wrong for feeling that everyone should be loaned the same.

k4kate

Hi there. Due to a combination of not quite getting his required A Level results and missing out on a clearing place due to a delay in being released by his insurance choice my son has ended up doing a higher education course that he doesn't really like. He is in the city that he wants to be in but not at the institution he originally wanted to be at.

He is currently trying to beg his way into the Uni (hoping to gain a place where someone has dropped out) and he has enough points for the courses he is interested in. If he can't get into the Uni this term he is talking about giving up and coming home and then starting again next year.

My question is obviously regarding the financial side. Am I correct in thinking that if he stays in continuous higher education he will stay at the £3k fee level for the duration of his studies even if he moves institution? If he jacks it in now and comes home will he have to pay back his student loan straight away? Also, if he starts over next year will he be looking at paying the higher fees?

I'm thinking he might be best off gritting his teeth and putting up with a year of this course and the starting his favoured course at Uni next year. Short term pain for long term gain?

Any advice would be appreciated so I can try and encourage him in the best direction! Thanks

ani*fan

Hi there.

I'm looking for some info re. student loans. If you could help me that would be great.

I'm doing a part-time masters course 1 day a week. I work the rest of the week and make £27k. I have a dependent partner who gets low rate DLA.

Everything I find related to loans is linked to fee loans, which I don't need cos my fees are paid by the nhs. Am I right that I'm not eligible to apply for a student loan? I may consider a career development loan as I'm paying off some debt right now and career development loans may be lower interest than my current debt.

How wonderful to have access to an expert on here! I didn't realise. Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.

Taiko

Ani, you're ineligible for a student loan if it's post grad masters.

k4kate - If he changes course next year, he will pay the higher fees. Not that it matters, new system may work out better for him.

Taiko

arsenalbarnie wrote: »

They always seem to say no one needs to pay up front, but qualify that by meaning the tuition fees. This I feel is misleading. They obviously assume given your income you can afford to make up the difference. My feelings are why can't they just lend everyone what they estimate is enough in maintenance loan to manage without having to depend on their parents generosity? You may have debts, commitments that don't make it possible to help them out. Or you may not feel like being a generous parent for one reason or another. We are in the same boat as you. What are others thoughts on this I wonder. I expect I am in the wrong for feeling that everyone should be loaned the same.

The actual quotes are that nobody needs to pay their tuition fees up front. That's true, to the extent that providing you haven't done HE study previously.

Maintenance depends on the person's lifestyle. Some people do get by on the bare minimum.

k4kate

Taiko wrote: »

k4kate - If he changes course next year, he will pay the higher fees. Not that it matters, new system may work out better for him.

Thanks Taiko. Are you saying that the continuous education factor is irrelevant then and he's going to end up paying higher fees either way?

Thanks

Taiko

Indeed. It would only apply if he remained on the same course. A course transfer will attract higher fees.

k4kate

Thanks Taiko. At least we know where we stand. If it can be believed the college are saying that if he leaves before December he won't owe them any fees. So that will just leave a portion of his maintenance grant to pay back - he's only had 1 instalment so far.

Let's hope he can get onto the course he wants this year but as per the advice on here, the higher rate fee situation isn't as bad as it sounds.

Taiko

You need to be careful, and get that in writing about zero fees.

If a student leaves before 3 months of the academic year are up, the SLC will not fund for fees. However, some universities and colleges will still charge, and it then becomes the responsibility of the student.

Get any agreements from them in writing before deciding what you will do, might help in the long run.