Don't know how I will afford uni...

mightymixty

That seems quite expensive for accomodation, is it an expensive city or can you see if you could apply for a cheaper option? Also have a look at scholarships and bursaries available. With a part-time job on top, I think you wouldn't need to worry

Derivative

The student loans company expects your parents to contribute if they earn above the income threshold - that's the reason for loans/grants being means tested.

Basically, you're not supposed to be able to fund yourself solo. The only way I can think of is that you could move out, and be assessed as independent.

Either that, or get a full time job for a year - if your parents are taking nothing, you should be able to save £8000+.

RainyDay123

You will have plenty of free time during university (and you will have times when you will have none!), you could take advantage of this by maybe either getting a small part-time job (I used to work at Marks and Sparks on a temp basis for xmas) or making some money on the internet somehow. You could join a temp agency as well, I used to do a regular 3-4 hours work data entry and that brought in 30 quid a week, 120 a month. It will all add up. Just don't go crazy with your money and i promise you'll manage.

adelight

30 hours a week, 600 a month? You're getting paid less than £5 an hour? How old are you?
I also earn ~£600 a month and am currently a student and if you see my sig my goal is to save £3400 by september for masters fees (not that i have a place yet, but 90% certain i will) and I think it's totally doable even with bills to pay
If you have lots of experience working you should be able to get a job where your university is within a few months, you could even apply for jobs there a few weeks before your course starts.
How far away is the university? Is it commutable? ie if you're in 3 days a week and travel costs you £60 a week then that's commutable and a lot cheaper! If money is really worrying you and it looks like you will really struggle then consider going to a university which is a commutable distance or doing an open university degree. I know you won't get the same "experience" but really the only parts of that experience you'll miss out on are cramming in the library at 3am (you can do it in the comfort of your own home), student club nights with uni friends (you can do it with friends in your hometown instead), major money worries and landlords who take the mick just because you're a student.

gary901

Although you would save money commuting, I think you would definitely miss out on the Uni experience and would be somehting you'd definietely regret. Living at home doesn't give you the same opportunity to make friends. These are usually friends for life or maybe even future business partners. Your hometown does not provide you with the like-minded people you will meet at Uni.

I would do everything i could to ensure i could afford to live at University to ensure i get the best experience possible.

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver

The BEST course of action to take in all circumstances regardlesss of the uni thing pans out is become a self learner, set your own Reading Lists, decide the questions you wish to answer, nick as many papers as you can offline !!!!!!!!!! , follow heart, and get yourself the best bloody books available on your theoretical pursuits.
This is what I do.
I advise you and all others to do the same in an MSE way, ie at lowest possible cost to get at the chosen resources.
Also don't let the barstards get you down.(more of an issue if you are a mature student with snidy bigoted intellectually lazy young students)

Pont

First thoughts are is that your accommodation seems rather expensive - is this halls or a flat/house share? If you plan on studying in an 'expensive' area, there are usually plenty of relatively well paid, student targeted jobs too.

£3500 loan plus perhaps £100 a week wages (tax free) is more than enough IMO.

Don't know if you've calculated your accommodation on 52 weeks a year? Student leases are usually for 10 months (September - June).

yertiz_2

I have one son at Uni in Midlands who pays £4080 pa and one in the south paying £4180 pa both in shared accom with 3 others (plus bills) and their contracts are for 12 months. So it seems thats about the going rate.

Derivative

My accommodation is £3000pa incl utilities and that's the absolute cheapest on offer to me - there are about 10 rooms that cheap.

Tiered system that goes up to £4600 for term time only, or £5500 for a 40 week tenancy, depending on how big a room you want.

£4000 is about middling I reckon.

I still stand by my original point. The Student Loans Company _expect_ your parents to contribute. It would not be means tested otherwise. I understand the awkwardness of the situation - but that's how it is. If they won't contribute then your best option is probably to try and get a full time job - you could save £10k in a year if you're living rent free.

Pont

My eldest has a house share with 7 others. Each pays £250 a month for a 10 month lease. The eight of them share utilities (last electric bill was £11 each - they have solar panels). All of them have jobs too.

I guess student rents vary greatly throughout the country (as do non-student rents). However, usually the pricier the area the higher the wages.