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Industrial placement year - affect on student loan

My son is in the 2nd year of a 4-year university Computer Science course and has just applied for an industrial placement year with a local company. If he gets it he would take a year off university during 2012-13.

He is worried that when he returns to uni in 2013 he might fall under the new post-2012 student finance system. Or will he still fall under the "old" system as he started the course back in 2010? Does anyone know?

Comments

  • melancholly
    melancholly Posts: 7,457 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    i'm not so sure on work placements (as opposed to studying abroad). are placements arranged/encouraged by the department or is this a private arrangement? if half the year group will do a placement, then the uni will be able to give answers as this will happen all the time. at any rate, even if he defers the year, he shouldn't have to pay the increased fees. i'd be more worried that he'd owe fees to the uni for the duration of placement year.... plenty of people do a year in industry though, so i'm sure someone who knows more will be able to help!
    :happyhear
  • Simon11
    Simon11 Posts: 800 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Hi

    I would assume that he would continue paying the old rates however I would contact the university to confirm.

    As for doing a placement, that is the best thing ever to do!

    I did a placement year in 2009-10 as a Business Analyst and I learnt so much! This led me to my current job as a revenue analyst which I started a week after my final exams! 7 Months down the line, I'm handing in my notice and becoming a Business Analyst Manager responsible for a company with revenue of over half a billion £.

    Now if I hadn't have taken the placement year, I would have had no chance in hell of getting this manager's job. In the current market, I believe a placement is more valuable than getting a first.

    If you have any questions on placements drop me a pm.

    Regards

    Simon
    A week after
    "No likey no need to hit thanks button!":p
    However its always nice to be thanked if you feel mine and other people's posts here offer great advice:D So hit the button if you likey:rotfl:
  • Taiko
    Taiko Posts: 2,721 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Would stay on the old rates. 100%.
  • I'm currently on placement and I know I will still be paying the old rates on my return to Uni.
  • Lokolo
    Lokolo Posts: 20,861 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts
    As above, same rates. However you should tell your son to reserarch whether the university charge tution fees in his year out, mine did (not full amounts, partial) to cover costs of lecturers coming out to see you etc. in which case he may have to (unless he plans on paying it himself) take out student loan in that year.
  • Kess
    Kess Posts: 111 Forumite
    Thanks for all the responses. It's interesting to know he may still have to pay some university fees; we hadn't anticipated that. I'll get him to speak to his department about it.
  • hi,

    I'm currently on a placement year and have to pay £675 tuition fees for the year. I think this is about the norm.

    Also, I have a question. Will I still be entitled to the full student loan and maintenance grant when I return to Uni next year. My placement is a paid placement. However, with accommodation and travel I am unable to save any of this, so will need student finance.

    Thanks
  • Lokolo
    Lokolo Posts: 20,861 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts
    edited 26 January 2012 at 9:45AM
    phill1222 wrote: »
    hi,

    I'm currently on a placement year and have to pay £675 tuition fees for the year. I think this is about the norm.

    Also, I have a question. Will I still be entitled to the full student loan and maintenance grant when I return to Uni next year. My placement is a paid placement. However, with accommodation and travel I am unable to save any of this, so will need student finance.

    Thanks

    You get part finance (well you did few years ago when I did one)

    See below.
  • You would get the full finance upon your return :)
    SAVINGS: £63.86 // £3,000
  • Lokolo
    Lokolo Posts: 20,861 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts
    You would get the full finance upon your return :)

    Sorry yes I mis-read the original question!

    You'll get full finance on return, but out on placement you can still get part loan.
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