Student Loan 2015 Discussion

5thProvince

I do think it important to consider all our children's options and to think outside the box. My oldest is 15 so there is a bit of time to wait and see for us. Our young people can work anywhere in the EEC and they could possibly pick up a language while they are at it. 18-30s can get a 2 year work visa for Australia. Australia is doing well economically relative to Uk. Just as they can work outside the UK so can they study for less. See the recent articles in the Telegraph. Sorry I don't have privileges to post links as a newbie.

setmefree2

The_Baroness wrote: »

I don't think we need to worry about that. Whatever they say when they are in Opposition, has any Party, once they back in power, removed or amended any taxes/fees which a previous government may has introduced, which would result in less money coming into the coffers? Once any fees/taxes are introduced, the only way they change is by going up.

A reduction in interest charged wouldn't actually result in a loss of income in the short or even medium term (or probably not even that much in the longer term.) Students pay back a proportion of their income above £21k and that proportion is pretty much the same, in the short and medium term, whatever the interest rate.

So it would be a vote winner that would cost a govenment nothing, for the life of their stay in office.

silvercar

Our younger child will be hit by these tuition fees and my initial thought was that we as parents should provide for some of his costs, so that he isn't saddled with such a large debt.

Then my elder, who finishes uni this month, announced that he would like to do an MA post grad for 1 year. There are no loans available for this at all - no tuition fee loan or maintenance. So suddenly that seems more urgent an expense for us to cover.

Now luckily the age gap means that we knew about one before the other and can budget accordingly. But it does make me think twice about providing money when a loan is available. I'm now inclined to let the younger one take the loans in full.

MrsAverage

Thanks MSe team for the updates to the original guide, particularly the £9000 fee tables.

This clearly shows the vast majority of people never repaying their loan,so I am now even more concerned that the entire idea is flawed and has been totally miscalculated by the government.

With a son due to go to Uni in 2012 I not only want to know his chances of being accepted into a limited quota, but also to know that his course will run and be funded for the full 3 years.

I am hoping that my questions will be answered in the much vaunted White Paper and to have the opportunity to contribute to the 'consultation'. Does anyone have any news on when this is to be published?

silvercar

With a son due to go to Uni in 2012 I not only want to know his chances of being accepted into a limited quota, but also to know that his course will run and be funded for the full 3 years.

Generally they continue funding the courses for existing students and don't take new students onto the course.

It could be (here's hoping!) that the student fees fiasco reduces the number of applicants, so increases the chances of those that really want to go to uni.

Dustykitten

I think there will be a lot of students who would have started in 2012 taking a gap year to see how the land lies, how the fees settle down, what the uptake is like. My son is planning on doing just that.

silvercar

Dustykitten wrote: »

I think there will be a lot of students who would have started in 2012 taking a gap year to see how the land lies, how the fees settle down, what the uptake is like. My son is planning on doing just that.

Very good idea

If too many do that, it won't give an indication of what happens the following year as there will be pent up demand.

Same as there won't be many people deferring from 2011 to 2012.

sket

Hi,
I am about to start a part time PGCE in September. The guide mentions part time students, but only if it is their first degree.
Is there help out there for people taking PGCEs, Masters etc, especially on a part time basis?

Dustykitten

silvercar wrote: »

Very good idea

If too many do that, it won't give an indication of what happens the following year as there will be pent up demand.

Same as there won't be many people deferring from 2011 to 2012.

I agree. I guess it may depend on how many apply and defer. That would give more of an indication than those who delay entry altogether.

Oldernotwiser

sket wrote: »

Hi,
I am about to start a part time PGCE in September. The guide mentions part time students, but only if it is their first degree.
Is there help out there for people taking PGCEs, Masters etc, especially on a part time basis?

As a PGCE is, by definition, a post graduate qualification, it cannot be a first degree. At the moment there are means tested fee grants available but no maintenance funding.

Funding for Masters degrees is quite separate and generally hard to get; there are many threads on the subject on this board.