Student Loan 2015 Discussion

Taiko

I would imagine, given ONW's career, it was repaid in full.

mrs_deadline

Still, the details could be educational. I was at uni in the mid-80s when they weren't on offer. The jaded attitude to moneylending came of being cash-strapped and negative-equity trapped all through the 90s, tuition fee repayments would have been the last straw I think.

gfplux

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

University study isn't about the number of teaching hours; university isn't about teaching, it's about learning.

I hope you don't take the same attitude to other services provided. So the consumer is totally responsible, not the provider!
I still say we need to ask more questions and be provided with more information about what you get for the money.

Oldernotwiser

gfplux wrote: »

I hope you don't take the same attitude to other services provided. So the consumer is totally responsible, not the provider!
I still say we need to ask more questions and be provided with more information about what you get for the money.

Higher education isn't a service provided by someone else, it's something students do themselves, facilitated by the university they attend.

Oldernotwiser

mrs_deadline wrote: »

If you don't mind me asking, are you or have you been in the situation of having to pay it back? Can understand if you prefer not to say.

Of course I don't mind you asking. My student loan was completely written off earlier this year.

Oldernotwiser

Taiko wrote: »

I would imagine, given ONW's career, it was repaid in full.

Unfortunately not. I had a pre 1998 loan and my salary was always just below the threshold.

(Careers Advisers working with adults frequently earn less then their clients!)

setmefree2

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

The only people who will be repaying a "heap of money" will be high earners and most of those wouldn't be in this position without a degree.

The majority will be paying a serious amount of money, otherwise the whole thing wouldn't work. Only a minority will pay a small amount.

This is a serious financial commitment. I have no idea why people on MSE and those in MSE towers would choose to see it otherwise? I find that very strange?

setmefree2

melancholly wrote: »

the decision is, will this loan allow him to do a degree that could change his life and open up options? that's what it boils down to. fair or otherwise, it is what it is......

I'm not sure doing a degree changes everyone's life? It's also a serious amount of hard work that may, in the end, reap very little financial reward. Yes doing a degree might be enjoyable, yes it might help you "expand" your mind.... but in the end is it £50k to £80k worth of "enjoyable" or "mind enhancingness" over 30 years? Maybe students will reach the conclusion that they can "enhance" their minds in other cheaper ways?

It's a serious financial commitment and some people might reach the conclusion that it's just not worth it.

Helix

gfplux wrote: »

Great guide.
However we now also need to focus on value for money. What do different University's offer for all this money. How many hours of lectures, tutorials etc.
Most unis are very vague about this at the moment.

This is going to change the government is making all universities publish this sort of information in a standard format so that it can be compared easily between courses and universities.

However it won't be in time for 2012 applicants because they haven't given the universities enough time to gather all the required information and present it in the way required. I believe they have until Sept 2012 to implement it.

The_One_Who

Going to university is something you can do at any age, and that seems to have perhaps been overlooked here. It's not like if you don't go at eighteen you are no longer eligible to apply. People can take a few (or a lot!) of years out of education to decide if it is for them, if they would prefer to try and get a job then they can do that. Of course, I don't think the situation will be much better in future, but there are other options available. They could look into part-time study, or distance learning.