Parents in England expected to contribute up to £15,000 a year towards children's uni living costs

letsbenice

sammyjammy said:

Its always been that way if parents earn over the income limit.  Most people just can't contribute that so students need to get jobs or manage on less.

One of the reasons (IMO) that you should only go to Uni if you need a degree to do the job you want.

It can be a "right of passage" but only if you can afford it!  There are so many other options with work and Apprenticeships these days.

I don't agree that everything is based on income. Why should parents pay for adult's degree of their own choice for which they are already getting a loan? All students should get same help. This income assessment for all benefits in UK is why people do not aspire to earn more, unskilled themselves and why everyone flocks here. In most other countries all students get the same support to start life, and benefits and pensions are contribution based . The more you contribute the more you get - and time limited. That's why people don't to work or just do basic jobs. 

silvercar

letsbenice said:

sammyjammy said:

Its always been that way if parents earn over the income limit.  Most people just can't contribute that so students need to get jobs or manage on less.

One of the reasons (IMO) that you should only go to Uni if you need a degree to do the job you want.

It can be a "right of passage" but only if you can afford it!  There are so many other options with work and Apprenticeships these days.

I don't agree that everything is based on income. Why should parents pay for adult's degree of their own choice for which they are already getting a loan? All students should get same help. This income assessment for all benefits in UK is why people do not aspire to earn more, unskilled themselves and why everyone flocks here. In most other countries all students get the same support to start life, and benefits and pensions are contribution based . The more you contribute the more you get - and time limited. That's why people don't to work or just do basic jobs. 

In Wales, every student gets the same amount. Income of parents is used to determine how much is a loan and how much a grant. That seems a better system than we have in England.

silvercar

letsbenice said:

Well in Exeter just accommodation without utility bills is £9500 plus - the cheapest. Room in a shared house. Similar with Oxford, Cambridge, Bristol... if parents exceed the income bracket which in London is not that hard, student does not get the loan. I don't think £5000 a year for utility bills, food, toiletries, commuting, printing/study related costs is a lot for a year. Do you? I am secondary account holder on my daughter's bank account and can see that even on night out she just buys a soft drink in a club 1 per night. Sometimes I feel really sorry for such a poor student life. In effect kids of parents on benefits are better off as benefits don't count as income - they get to full £10,450 loan and a bursary from university. Sorry but it does not pay to do well in this country. 

I suspect there are university towns with cheaper rents than that. Other costs will be the same, so the rents can determine whether a certain uni is affordable.

Generally speaking, it is the squeezed middle that suffers. Kids of parents on benefits may have lost out on other opportunities in their formative years even if they will do better on university funding.