financially shafted next year? rant!

TeaBoy_2

I'm currently studying my 2nd and final year of a HND and must admit that the government has treated me well as i'm from a poor family. I had all my fees paid for and received a £1000 maintanence grant with a full loan to support my living cost. While I have done some part-time and summer work I've still managed to spend my loan and maxed out the overdraft.

Now... I'm looking at entering a 1 year 'top-up' degree course. Only now (if i've read this right) i will recieve, at most, £2700 in grants but will have to pay the full fees, which has risen to £3000 per year! and I won't be eligible for the full loan. My calculation suggestion i'll be getting around 2k less than i did this year. On top of that i'll have the problems of not having an overdraft and a much greater work load giving less time for paid work.

It appears that as a poor student I will be a lot worse off under the new scheme and even considering wether i can actually afford to carry on in education.

Surely this can't be the case! have i really understood this right?

elisebutt65

I'm not sure that you will be classed as a new student? Are yoiu carrying on at the same place where you did your HND?

I did the first year of my HND and then 'upgraded' to a degree course and it was just classed as a change of subject - i get the same funding levels next year as I have in previous years.

It might be worth getting onto your LEA about it.

ftbworried

You do not have to pay your £3000 fees upfront. It is only payable AFTER your degree and once you are earning > £15k pa. It's kinda 'tagged' on to your student loan to make it EVEN BIGGER!! (well done Labour on doubling the debt of the population who want to better themselves).

TeaBoy_2

elisebutt65 wrote:

I'm not sure that you will be classed as a new student? Are yoiu carrying on at the same place where you did your HND?

I did the first year of my HND and then 'upgraded' to a degree course and it was just classed as a change of subject - i get the same funding levels next year as I have in previous years.

It might be worth getting onto your LEA about it.

Afraid my current university doesn't offer a 'top up' course so i'm having to transfer universities. I presume I can't carry on with my current fees. Will look into it though. cheers.

TeaBoy_2

and yeah thanks ftbworried. i just realised that. but as you say i will end up with more debt than i would have under the old scheme. which was bad enough imo.

the LEA are going to call me back when they figure out if i will fall under the new scheme
fingers crossed.

also, does anyone know if under the new scheme they will still offer the access to learning fund?

TeaBoy_2

just got the call back and i'll still fall under the old scheme. phew! thats a weight of my mind.
Still i'm shocked that the less fortunate are been landed with bigger debts. bloody blair, he seems such a nice guy too.

elisebutt65

Yeah - I think as long as your education is uninterrupted then you would carry on as before.

Means I can't take a year out before doing my PGCE but get seem to get shed loads more money for dong that anyway - lol

Jersy

i have this prob 2, thanks very much for clearing it!

vincefenlon

im in my 2nd year and just grateful, gotta save alot if i have kids going to uni. they go on that you wont have to pay upfront, but then if you use your loan now its delayed anyway, its just that they are going to get overall 6.5k-7k a year possibly in loans, over 3years thats £21k then spread over 20yrs repayment at 3% interest it soons start costing alot, and with the increase in cost of living, house prices, council tax, utility costs etc it seems worthless wasting that money when there isnt enough skilled jobs and a shortage of plumbers, builders, electricians, so my suggestion would be if you dont mind getting your hands dirty and working for yourself then you could make alot of money bein a plumber etc.

One mentor whos a CEO of a multinational said to work in Dubai or somewhere where the tax man cant get ya (is this true?)

kar

I'm not taking a year out before my PGCE and still get lumbered with the new fees. Up until this year the gov paid it all for you. Not anymore. ******** labour

exil

I think you will find the other parties either favour a graduate tax or a variation on
the "add fees to the student debt" theme. Nobody is suggesting fees be abolished.