I can't believe how expensive Uni is

The_One_Who

bodmil wrote: »

I seem to recall the prospect of 2 year bachelors talked about somewhere. With a far more rigorous schedule and 1-2 weeks summer holiday you would end up with a lot less debt. I wonder how many students would be willing to do that though. I probably only worked about 20% of the time at uni anyway so it's certainly do-able for some courses.

When would there be an opportunity to earn experience, relevant or not? Employers want their intake to have at least some work experience, and two weeks off in the summer isn't going to give that.

Also, when do the lecturers get to do their own research? It'd involve a bit of a split in the department with needing to have largely teaching staff and the others doing research. Academics are pretty stressed out with the way things are at the moment.

MrsManda

The_One_Who wrote: »

Also, when do the lecturers get to do their own research? It'd involve a bit of a split in the department with needing to have largely teaching staff and the others doing research. Academics are pretty stressed out with the way things are at the moment.

This is partly the problem with reducing the number of holidays. Universities get a large proportion of their income through research grants and lecturers are usually appointed, not primarily as lecturers but as researchers who can show that they will bring income into the university through their research. Lecturing students is just a part of their contract. Therefore removing the time they have to do research will a) stop the univeristy from recruiting highly qualified staff and b) mean that tuition fees would have to go up anyway as the university won't be getting the income from research grants and their staff will need to be paid more from existing budgets rather than through their research funding.
Plus cost of accommodation over the year will rise as students will need it for longer.

atypical

There's a good article here (The Independent) about the pros and cons of a 2 year degree.

melancholly

The_One_Who wrote: »

Academics are pretty stressed out with the way things are at the moment.

indeed! there are a lot of places going through redundancies for academic staff right now thanks to planned HEFCE funding cuts....... all a big mess......... difficult to consider lateral moves to other industries by the time you're at a lecturer level..... not a great time for uk universities.

melancholly

atypical wrote: »

There's a good article here (The Independent) about the pros and cons of a 2 year degree.

interesting article - i think the telling feature of the unis offering these 2 year degrees already is that they are, on the whole, teaching rather than research led institutions. can't see it catching on in places with research as a priority - there's barely enough time to write grants and papers as it is!

greenpixie_2

devildog wrote: »

I think they should cut down the length of time that the courses last. DD is in her first year and of that I estimate that for 5 months of that she will be at home(month xmas, month easter and 3 months in the summer) She is going to have a heck of a lot of loans(4 year course) for what amounts to 7 months tuition each year and that is not even taking into consideration how often she needs to attend lectures each week!! Surely they could condense the courses!!
I also believe that although in theory everyone is entitled to a uni education the more people that do this the less value a degree holds. I may be speaking out of line year but when I hear of people getting D/E grades at A level and going off to uni (or are some of them glorifed colleges) I wonder what the point is!

The whole system needs to be looked at again

I have to argue with this, I came out of sixth form with two AS levels D and E and one A level D

It wasn't the kind of things that i wanted to study, I've ended up at a music college. Where you don't need A levels to get its more based on Talent and alot of universities will look at this rather than your actual grades.But the fact is that i needed to go through the whole A level system to get here. I couldn't come here straight after doing my GCSE's in which i did quite well.

parley wrote: »

Not all students waste money on booze. Alot of us are busy studying and working, so don't fit into that stereotypical view as you think of students. Ok you don't seem to mind the debt but it's very hard going for most students. It is very hard to make ends meet when you have to survive on these loans especially if you don't have support from family members.

You can argue this with why should tax payers pay for people in prison gaining a degree. Most of us students pay tax when working part-time, some work harder than being in full time work and pay taxes but inmates don't. So should we all go to prison to get a degree and not be in debt.

Comments like yours are not very encouraging.

Please can we give OP some support and give some helpful advice instead of some of the comments posted, which are not very helpful.

Though, I do have one friend who is completly Tee total, he is a senior resident (a second year living with first years in halls to help them out) so he gets a large chunk off of his rent. But because he doesn't go out drinking (But i have to add he does get the full amount of loan) He is actually saving money each term from him loan.

Simon11

I'm nearly through my placement year at university and having my final year. I have no debt so far, but have infact managed to save lots of money for potential house after uni!:o

I've done this from:-

1. Living at Home- easily saved 3k for accomodation and food/extras. I don't lose out atall since I have joined lots of social clubs:D
2. I cycled everywhere, even though I passed my test over 3 years ago.
3. For the last 3 years I have worked average of 20hours a week at local pool, fitting around uni+life. Also free gym and pool use:j
4. Taken on a work placement for a year for experience and earning 15k:D

I feel I havn't missed out on anything and i understand that some people can't make the savings I have made.

However there is no need to move to a far flung city to study! I'm looking forward to finish uni and have enough money for a place of my own. Rather than finishing uni in 20k of debt and living with parents for many many years:beer:

Good luck with everyone having exams:T

Indie_Kid

greenpixie wrote: »

Though, I do have one friend who is completly Tee total, he is a senior resident (a second year living with first years in halls to help them out) so he gets a large chunk off of his rent. But because he doesn't go out drinking (But i have to add he does get the full amount of loan) He is actually saving money each term from him loan.

I've saved a lot of money this way.

snugglepet20

What I don't get is that the government will happily pay for you to sit on your backside at home on JSA but if you want to make something of your life you have to pay through the nose for it!

Indie_Kid

snugglepet20 wrote: »

What I don't get is that the government will happily pay for you to sit on your backside at home on JSA but if you want to make something of your life you have to pay through the nose for it!

They don't make you take out the loans, do they?