to think my son should go to College near home to save money?

[OrangeStar]

I know in the old days teenagers and young adults often went away from home area to study, and it was great for fostering independence and freedom.

However, these days, with education courses (especially degrees) costing so much money, and the very limited grants and high cost of housing, I can't see how my son would afford to live away from home in terms of rent in addition to all the other costs!

Wondered how other people saw this, or managed this? I'd like for my son to have the choice to move to study away from home if he wanted, but I can't practically see how he (or I) could afford it.

[mollymaid16]

I moved to another part of the uk to study a degree and although the student finance fees covered housing and living costs I also had something called a part time job maybe he should look it up

[RentANDBills]

Student loan will cover him for the very basic living needs, the rest he can top up with a part time job and full time work in the summer.

You won't be fostering his independence through uni if you pay for it for him.

Put that money aside to help him out in emergencies or for a deposit later down the line.

[OrangeStar]

I'm including a part-time job in the calculations Molly, but since you didn't learn basic common sense, grammar or any manners on your degree, I think I'll pass on your "advice"

[TabithaBethia]

[Dumbstrucked]

[OrangeStar]

Sorry, I won't be paying for it (we haven't got any money thats why I'm posting this question) i.e. how could he study away from home with no grant and no financial support from home.

[OrangeStar]

Why all the rude faces?

[allchattedout]

Do you have any good unis near where you live? If not, it would not fair to tell him he needs to stay home if that means losing out on going somewhere with a better reputation. If he studies in the North for example, he should be able to manage on his student loan with maybe a part time job or holiday job, as rents are pretty cheap. Try to look at student loans as a graduate tax rather than an upfront cost.

[Loopytiles]

Certainly makes sense for him to research costs (and opportunities to earn) and take that into account in his decision making. High debts aren't great, especially when a degree is no guarantee of a good income.

[Nicketynac]

It depends on the options for your area. If he is set on a particular course which isn't offered near you then he might need to move.
I stayed at home, had a job and it was still a stretch at times.

[OrangeStar]

oh I see my antsy reaction to Mollymaid's rude and patronising post.

[RentANDBills]

how could he study away from home with no grant and no financial support from home.
He will get a maintenance loan which will cover basics and then he can get a PT job to subsidise that. In the summer he can work FT to save for the coming year. Units have a department for recruiting students in PT positions.

[allchattedout]

The student loan is about £8,000 per annum. It will be a bit tight, but say if he could earn another £3,000 through part time work, he should surely be fine? Then if you could afford to give him say £50 per month, that would also help.

[OrangeStar]

But thanks to the other later posts. I don't think its an easy question, but some ideas helpful.

[mollymaid16]

I think someone needs to look at their own grammar before judging others

[milliemolliemou]

It depends on the course he wants and what help you can get. If it's a course with proven employment prospects at a well respected college/uni then he might try to earn money ahead of time while you research what funds are available to you and if there are any friends/relatives who might take him in for a bit. There are also increasing numbers of apprenticeships which pay from law to accounting and engineering. A part time job that offers the flexibility for study as Mony suggests is now hardly enough to even touch on the admix of rent/living costs/tuition fees/travel. .

[DrinkMilkAndKickAss]

I'd like to know if the universe in which student loans cover even basic living costs! Our DC's rent wasn't even covered by their loan and they by no means went for the flashy option. Students get at least 3 months summer vac which many choose to spend living at home so a job then helps to cover a lot of costs, plus if possible a part time job. I know for my DC however they would much rather focus on their studies in term time and work full time in the holidays to help cover their costs of living. Theirs so much more pressure nowadays to get a good degree that I think working alongside studies is less feasible, but a few hours a week is by no means impossible. Depending on the university a lot also give out their own means tested grants, plus there's recently been a surge in universities offering financial incentives to choose their institution. For example my DN received a £2000 a year scholarship at a top 20 uni for achieving three As at A level. A lot of the information out there is quite unclear so it's necessary for your DS (and you) to do your research. The government may be trying its hardest to make it so but uni isn't as unaffordable as many think.

[DrinkMilkAndKickAss]

• there's, oops

[RentANDBills]

A student loan will give him £153 a week, which would cover basic accommodation and food. Though a lot of students go home for the summer so minus 8 weeks of accomodation would mean £182 a week.
A job working 8 hours a week would be another £60.

So he'd have a min of £213 a week, which is tight but very doable.

[OrangeStar]

Yes DrinkMilk that sounds realistic and some possibilities there.

[GatherlyGal]

Love the suggestion that he live in the North as rent is cheap. You do know there are cities and everything up there?

[merrymouse]

It depends where you live and what he wants to study.