Divorced parents of Student

Savvy_Sue

stuwilky wrote:

Sue, which is the uni?

Im hearing a lot of that type of comment. I knowmost of our literature is aimed at low earners, but as 75% of our students make no contribution it is understandable.

Do remember though that there are other ways of getting assistance once the kids get to uni, Access to Learning Fund for example - you dont necessarily get involved in the application but nothing wrong in pointing junior towards the right place. If you find he is struggling give me a shout and I will explain all!

Warwick. And thanks for the offer! But is it just me, or is it unfair that in a situation where 75% of students make no contribution, the other 25% - who may or may not be more able - are ineligible for extra financial help? Especially when you start paying through the nose for the privilege of your child going to Uni at comparatively low income levels! Whose idea was it that this daft percentage of 18 year olds should go to Uni anyway? Bring back the days of an academic elite, say I! (Sorry, off topic, rant over. )

I am hoping he will be sensible enough to get a job, am already pointing him in the right direction (the Arts Centre) as he wouldn't last 5 minutes behind a bar, and not a lot longer in a catering environment! Just not his cup of tea. I did suggest trying to find more full-time work than his current job over the summer, somewhere like Smiths or Waterstones, so he could transfer (hopefully) to his Uni, but it would require effort...

stuwilky

Sue, they are not "ineligible for extra help"

With the current system the maximum difference in funding between the highest earners and the lower earnings would be £3k. But there are other sources of funding available at the University that ALL students can apply for - with each case being assessed individually.

The LEA assessment is only the first application. There are some other options.

But the job idea is a sound one - not only will it get him some beer money, it will also look good on his CV when he graduates, ive got some interesting figures somewhere about starting salaries on graduation.

Savvy_Sue

stuwilky wrote:

Sue, they are not "ineligible for extra help"

But they can't apply for the scholarships and bursaries for which we've been sent details now, for which you have to be getting full tuition fees paid and the full student loan. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against helping bright students from poorer backgrounds, it just irks me that there's nothing he can apply for NOW, he has to get into a mess first, as it were.

stuwilky wrote:

But the job idea is a sound one - not only will it get him some beer money, it will also look good on his CV when he graduates, ive got some interesting figures somewhere about starting salaries on graduation.

He doesn't drink beer - no honestly, he doesn't like the taste of that or any alcohol, we've tried we really have but he just doesn't like it! ... or tea, or coffee. I really don't know what kind of student he's going to be!

stuwilky

Savvy_Sue wrote:

He doesn't drink beer - no honestly, he doesn't like the taste of that or any alcohol, we've tried we really have but he just doesn't like it! ... or tea, or coffee. I really don't know what kind of student he's going to be!

Probably one with good marks!!

System

My view on financial help for students comes from a different perspective. My husband and I are lucky in that we have quite a good income but our disposable income is tight. My brother-in-law and his ex between them have approximately the same income and disposable income as us yet because they are divorced and the kids live with his ex (he pays maintenance) they do not have to pay fees as his income is not included. Their kids also get the maximum student loan due to the means testing.

Now in some ways I'm glad my daughter does not get the full student loan because that means she will not owe as much at the end of her degree but I do feel agrieved that we have to pay fees for her when my ex sister-in-law does not.

nearlyrich

Pam17 wrote:

My husband and I are lucky in that we have quite a good income but our disposable income is tight.

My arguement is that the cut off is too low, if you earn less than £50K you get Tax credits but when your child gets really expensive the threshold is dropped by over £20K. Most "middle class" parents for want of a better term, have mortgages and other children to support.

Now in some ways I'm glad my daughter does not get the full student loan because that means she will not owe as much at the end of her degree but I do feel agrieved that we have to pay fees for her when my ex sister-in-law does not.

My ex doesn't have to pay anything but the LEA expect my DH, who is not financially responsible for my children,to cough up.