Student Loan 2015 Discussion

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Comments

  • joguest
    joguest Posts: 233 Forumite
    edited 11 June 2011 at 12:14PM
    The comments about tuition fees being equivalent to a graduate tax are highly misleading and could be construed as political spin.

    For example, the table in section 18 shows that high-earners will pay back a smaller gross total over the loan period than those on middle incomes. When viewed as a proportion of the total income (the strict definition of tax progressivity), it is apparent that tuition fees are highly regressive between middle and high incomes. This is an important political discussion point, as the proposals for a graduate tax advocated by the likes of the NUS are progressive. The Lib Dem official policy calls for HE to funded through progressive taxation (income tax). Such schemes would be similar to income tax, not just in terms of the source of the taxation, but also in terms of progressivity. Tuition fees are clearly regressive in the strict sense and comparing them to a graduate tax is, in my opinion, misleading and politically charged.
  • real1314
    real1314 Posts: 4,432 Forumite
    Dear Martin

    I think you need to revise your repayment model for FAQ 17.

    1. The government's 'intention' (I use this term advisedly) is to index link the thresholds to general wage inflation not graduate pay. Wage inflation is currently around 2-2.5%. I think it is best to assume it as a similar level to RPI. Otherwise, what becomes apparent from your scheme is that the government could not afford this scheme - too few people would repay the loans.

    2. The interest rates and thresholds will not be set in primary legislation but treated as administrative matters. Until we see the terms of the loan agreements which individuals sign, it is not clear what protection there is for individuals against future governments changing the terms or, indeed, selling off the loans to third parties. (Loans can be sold without consultation and without consent - see 2008 Sale of Student Loans Act).

    3. The 2011 Education contains a section allowing the government or third parties to set commercial rates of interest (or higher in certain cases) on student loans.

    Part of your campaign for financial education needs to involve reading contracts and understanding how and when terms and conditions might change.

    Yours

    Andrew


    Given the current administration's (and the previous one's) changes to primary legislation for it's own employees in respect of both civil service redundancy terms and pension arrangements, can anyone genuinely rely on a government's claims to hold terms and conditions?
    How long will it take for a "it's not fair that they only pay so little" campaign to start up? Another "them and us" type approach aimed at reducing the quality of life for everyone on the basis that some don't get the same "favourable" terms? :cool:
  • setmefree2
    setmefree2 Posts: 9,072
    Mortgage-free Glee!
    Forumite
    edited 12 June 2011 at 8:25AM
    A great guide. I have one concern. The assumption that RPI is 3%. The problem is that RPI is currently 5+%. Barclays Capital is predicting RPI at 6.4% by October.

    Maybe over 30 years 3% RPI is a valid assumtion but right now it doesn't reflect reality. At RPI 5% plus 3% these loans will have racked up interest of c£8,000 before students graduate. That's another £8k that will be attracting interest for 30 years.

    Surely this should be taken into consideration when weighing up the cost of one of these loans?

    Maybe this wouldn't be an issue if wage rises were keeping up with inflation but they aren't.
  • joguest
    joguest Posts: 233 Forumite
    joguest wrote: »
    The comments about tuition fees being equivalent to a graduate tax are highly misleading and could be construed as political spin.

    For example, the table in section 18 shows that high-earners will pay back a smaller gross total over the loan period than those on middle incomes. When viewed as a proportion of the total income (the strict definition of tax progressivity), it is apparent that tuition fees are highly regressive between middle and high incomes. This is an important political discussion point, as the proposals for a graduate tax advocated by the likes of the NUS are progressive. The Lib Dem official policy calls for HE to funded through progressive taxation (income tax). Such schemes would be similar to income tax, not just in terms of the source of the taxation, but also in terms of progressivity. Tuition fees are clearly regressive in the strict sense and comparing them to a graduate tax is, in my opinion, misleading and politically charged.

    I can't believe you aven't removed the bit about the graduate tax yet.

    The section on it being like a graduate tax contains the following statement:

    "The amount paid increases with earnings "

    That's clearly untrue - if you have a look at the table in section 18.

    The coalition government explicitly rejected the idea of a graduate tax in favour of tuition fees on the basis that they were concerned high earners would leave the Country with the prospect of high taxation. Tuition fees clearly leave high earners paying back not just less money as a proportion of their income (i.e they are regressive in tax terms) but also LESS money. You cannot, therefore, compare tuition fees to a graduate tax - I'm not aware of any income tax system in the world that is regressive.
  • jw26_2
    jw26_2 Posts: 1 Newbie
    We must make it clear that, whilst the repayment system may work like a graduate tax, the fact is that this is a loan which is incurred from the start of studying at university and it will remain with the student even if they do not graduate. Students who drop out will carry the debt with them. A large proportion of part-time students do not complete their degrees. A substantial number of full-time students, varying from 20% to 5%, do not complete their degrees. They need to know that they will still have to repay the loans.
  • Former_MSE_Dan
    Former_MSE_Dan Posts: 1,593
    Combo Breaker First Post
    Forumite
    I think you need to revise your repayment model for FAQ 17.

    1. The government's 'intention' (I use this term advisedly) is to index link the thresholds to general wage inflation not graduate pay. Wage inflation is currently around 2-2.5%. I think it is best to assume it as a similar level to RPI. Otherwise, what becomes apparent from your scheme is that the government could not afford this scheme - too few people would repay the loans.

    2. The interest rates and thresholds will not be set in primary legislation but treated as administrative matters. Until we see the terms of the loan agreements which individuals sign, it is not clear what protection there is for individuals against future governments changing the terms or, indeed, selling off the loans to third parties. (Loans can be sold without consultation and without consent - see 2008 Sale of Student Loans Act).

    Thanks Andrew,

    We've worked on this a bit more now, and have changed the assumptions to be nearer what you discuss (was always the plan to get one version up then refine in time for the weekly email)

    We now do grad earnings rising at RPI+2% yearly, and the payment thresholds going up at RPI+1%. These both closely match the best ONS stats we could find - though earnings statistics have always been bizarrely hard to pin down

    What's struck me during the process is how marked the changes caused by a tweaked assumption have been. It will be really interesting to eventually find out the levels set by government, and how they affect repayment amounts and timescales.

    Dan
    Former MSE team member
  • P2TKL
    P2TKL Posts: 1,705
    First Anniversary
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    When the amount of student grant is worked out...are parents savings taken into account ? I have been led to believe they are BUT any money in ISA`s is not...is this correct ?
  • nmtd
    nmtd Posts: 9
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    FAQ 17 - Let's see this based on the full £9,000 that the majority of universities are going to charge.

    General - let's have an article on studying abroad and a cost comparison of that.

    I have children of 15 and 12. I earn good money by a lot of peoples standards but not enough to support £100,000+ of debt after they go through university when their time comes.

    If they want to study at university, I will be whole heartedly recommending that they do it abroad. I cannot see how any sane parent with an income above the levels that mean their children get no support can ever recommend their children embark on 30 years of DEBT at the tender age of 21.

    The whole scheme is nothing but the establishment wanting to start a social divide so that university education becomes only available to their own.

    Forget what's happening to the NHS - tuition fees is MUCH, MUCH worse.

    Advice to any intelligent kids out there - go abroad to study, make a new life for yourselves and give this country nothing - it is giving nothing to you.
  • realaledrinker
    realaledrinker Posts: 1,661
    Combo Breaker First Post First Anniversary I've been Money Tipped!
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    Terrific article, Martin.

    Our eldest is in the middle of his A2s so he just gets in before the old regime closes its doors.

    We are in the fortunate position of having an endowment plan which matures on 1st Sept so have made the decision not to apply for a student loan for him.

    One of the main additional reasons for this - and which is relevant for 2012 - is the nightmare of the Student Loans Company and all the blogs, postings on MSE etc, which tell of horror stories getting a loan, reapplying each year and then difficulties in stopping deductions when the loan has in fact been paid off.

    Younger sibling will be off to Uni in 2017 hopefully so we are just trying to save like hell to minimise the amount of loan she has to take out. Dad will be retired by then which is another worry.

    Please keep campaigning to reverse the idea of penalising students who pay off their loan early. That's not why I voted Lib Dem, Mr Clegg!!
    Ethical moneysaver
  • Oldernotwiser
    Oldernotwiser Posts: 37,425 Forumite

    Our eldest is in the middle of his A2s so he just gets in before the old regime closes its doors.

    We are in the fortunate position of having an endowment plan which matures on 1st Sept so have made the decision not to apply for a student loan for him.

    Just to point out that it isn't you who applies for the student loan and it isn't your decision to make if your son does.
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