MSE News: Student tuition fees could treble by 2012

Oldernotwiser

foofi22 wrote: »

With regard to the proposed(?) changes in the loan repayment rates/thresholds - does anyone know how this will affect past students (graduated 2007) currently repaying their loans?

It would be very very bad form to go retrospectively changing the terms of the loan like this, however I've not seen any references that it will not apply retrospectively (that said I've not seen any indications it will apply to past students)

I don't think this will be changed retrospectively but, if it were, that would mean the threshold for repaying your loan going up to £21,000.

amiehall

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

I don't think this will be changed retrospectively but, if it were, that would mean the threshold for repaying your loan going up to £21,000.

I already overpay on my loan though. I know it's not MSE but I ensure I make a monthly payment that matches the interest as compounding terrifies me. This helps me sleep at night

The capital is fine and I'll repay it once I've graduated but I can't cope with the idea of the interest compounding.

amiehall

Goldenyears wrote: »

What happens about graduates/postgrads who get permanent residence overseas soon after qualifying. Not unusual for someone with a transferable skill like medicine. Do they completely escape repayment of the loan ?

No, you're obliged to get in touch and report your earnings/make payments outside of the PAYE system. What they'd do if you didn't get in touch isn't really my area of expertise but I presume they'd be able to utilise some regulations that they apply to those evading tax abroad?

Oldernotwiser

Goldenyears wrote: »

What happens about graduates/postgrads who get permanent residence overseas soon after qualifying. Not unusual for someone with a transferable skill like medicine. Do they completely escape repayment of the loan ?

Not at all. There are different payment thresholds for different countries and punitive monthly fines if you don't notify them you've moved abroad. There have been cases of overseas debt collectors being used when payments go into arrears.

roysterer

Well done to the students who were in london today.
Its a pity you couldn't find that rent boy cleg. Did you see is other half sucking up to the chinese today.
This country is going to the dogs.

Arg

roysterer wrote: »

Well done to the students who were in london today.
Its a pity you couldn't find that rent boy cleg. Did you see is other half sucking up to the chinese today.
This country is going to the dogs.

The student snouts are being pulled out of the trough so the country is going to the dogs? :rotfl:

amiehall

Arg wrote: »

The student snouts are being pulled out of the trough so the country is going to the dogs? :rotfl:

Maybe you should try living off £5000 a year before you start talking about snouts in the trough?

melancholly

stephyt23 wrote: »

Just wondered if anyone thinks universities could potentially lose out if they were to charge that amount? I mean who would really want to be left with £30,000 of debt. I'm wondering if it will make a lot of people re-think their career plans. I know if I were looking to go to uni and doing A Levels at the minute I'd be having a serious think as to whether that amount of debt is really worth it.

government funding for unis has been cut - the number being thrown around is a cut in teaching money of about 80%. unis will lose out regardless - without these fees, they can't afford to run the courses, with these fees, there are likely to be less students so income will drop......

add in a cut in research budgets of 40% (that figure may be wrong though - i'm not sure about that one!) and unis are going to lose out across the board!

19scoby

My eldest son is due to go to university next year. My husband and me have decent jobs so he will not get any help appart from scholarships based on academic achievement as he is predicted 4 A grades. We have planned for this. We had enough capital to pay for the 4 year course he wants to take, Engineering by the way a good solid degree with good employment prospects. We reckoned that we could help with weekly outgoings like food etc and he would probably need a loan for halls of residence fees etc. but it would be manageable debt. We did not expect everything for free we are not scroungers but a hard working, decent family.
I am shocked at so many of the comments posted here and the negative attitude towards students and education. Do you want us all to stop trying should we all just stay on benefits or have low paid jobs supplemented by tax credits? what will be the effect on the taxpayer then?

melancholly

19scoby wrote: »

We have planned for this. We had enough capital to pay for the 4 year course he wants to take,

i guess this is what i see as the really sad part - people have planned and now the goal posts are massively shifting... one year later and fees will rocket. not a lot many people can do to adjust quickly to finding such a massive increase in money....