MSE News: 'We need war against student fee confusion'

unhappy_shopper

Just to pique your interest:

http://www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/international/costs.html

Imagine how much an overseas student of the 2012 cohort will have in student loans if studying medicine at Cambridge. It is hypothetical that any financial institution (other than Dad and Mum's bank) will lend that much money in the first instance.

I have posted this link to show (as an example) how much UK is subsidising its students for their education.

scottishmother

Hi. The course my daughter wanted to do wasn't available in Scotland. She's applied and been accepted to start in 2012 at Leeds University.

I followed the guidlines on MSE with regard to the increased fees and advised her that payments would begin at £21,000 etc (as per the English government guidelines). However, the situation is only now becoming clear in Scotland - outrageous in itself - and it now turns out that because the loan comes from Scotland, she has to abide by the Scottish repayment system which remains at 9% for earnings over £15,000 rather than the £21,000 that English students will start paying from.

So there is huge inequity on all sides: not only will she have to pay the £9000 fees (not even recouping the 'fees' the Scottish Goverment currently pays - which means courses are free -) but she'll also have to pay back considerably earlier and therefore considerably more than English students on the same course.

It's the worst of both worlds. And if the course had been offered in Scotland, of course she would have applied here.

Please can you include this warning so Scottish prospective students can see it. Or is there anything you can do to help? (I've already lobbied the Scottish parliament, to no avail.) Thanks