Universities and low income funding

Ah that’s useful intel, apols for my last post then.

Just to say if you don’t take loans you can still be assessed for low income bursaries etc, just need to speak to the uni to find out the process.

Yeh @IHE this could be a good reason to take out loans. if your DC is in yr 13 tho and has already applied it's a question if whether their chosen unis offer bursaries at all. Not all do.

You just have to make sure to tick the box on the loan forms which allow them to share info with your uni.

This is quite right.

A full maintenance loan and an application is all that’s required.

Often the bursaries are automatic. My daughter gets £500 per year which is given automatically at her uni to anyone who gets a full loan. She didn’t have to apply for it.

OP, now you have mentioned that your DC's fees will be covered, they are obviously not in need of a bursary. Bursaries are intended for those who have no means to go to university. You may well qualify under low income, but frankly that's a bit cheeky in your situation when your DC is not even in need of loans.

This is so awful. Why did her high earning Dad not support her?

Popping on to note that grants and bursaries are not a all just for low income students

Mine were approved based on subject studied for example and were not dependent on parental income.

A lot of bursaries are available to all students who qualify, usually the low income ones. They can also be if you’ve completed an access scheme (as PP have said), if you’re from a specific school or a particular underrepresented group e.g. care experienced.

Should definitely look into scholarships, these are either targeted at academic excellence, or students from a particular background/course/area/characteristic, you need to research into the offer at your specific university.

Students should put the appropriate amount of effort into a scholarship application - no ChatGPT!

I appreciate you wanting to contribute but please leave the bursaries for those kids that absolutely need them. Jump at the chance your child can leave debt free. Think that was quite an omission that totally changes the advice given.

But if the grandparents and dad are willing to pay the fees and living costs let them, don’t feel bad, it doesn’t stop your dc applying for some maintenance if needed either and his dad wouldn’t know

You put the income of the household your dc lives in on the application, this includes step parents (even if not married) if you live together, non resident parents are not on the application.

some universities have bursaries for low income students but tend to be subject specific, my dd had one for women in engineering one year but not the following because I’d move in with now dh.

Our kids got grants ie no requirement to pay back

They found info through the Uni and applied themselves
I don’t know how or why they were accepted
One son doing Zoology qualified as a lifetime non meat eater for a grant from an animal charity as his study area was directly related to the charities purpose

Take a close look also at whether paying uni costs is a good idea. I know student loans are changing and I haven't studied it in detail (my DC almost done) but for example dd is very unlikely ever to pay off her loan, so if I had had £50k to pay her fees and living exes (instead of her taking the loan) it would be better used as a house deposit tbh.

Like I say, the changes may make it less of a good idea to take the loans. Also is she likely to go into a high paying career?

I don't know much about which unis have bursaries but I infer she has already applied? so it's a moot point tbh..

If your ex and ex in-laws can cover the costs to the extent where no student loan is needed, your son is not from a low income family

ETA both parents income is taken into account.

Why should she get a bursary because you have a low income if her other parent is able and willing to support her financially? The bursary money is limited and should go to students who need it. Support her in other ways, e.g transport, setting up with household items, a big food shop at the start of term, a rent free home in the holidays.

Agree with @clary do investigate accommodation costs. Ds graduated from Warwick and halls were reasonable and he lived in Coventry in years two and three within walking distance of campus. Dd is at Bath which is £££. One of DD’s friends is at Cambridge and can stay in college for the duration of her degree.

Here’s my thread - the rents graphic is already out of date but it gives an idea

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/higher_education/5475672-interesting-if-dated-graphic-showing-student-rental-costs-yes-it-is-something-to-bear-in-mind?reply=150176129

I’ve got three at Uni atm
2 in Exeter @ rental approx £7500 inc bills ( not WiFi or insurance)
One just outside London but within the London weighting paying a little more

Their halls were on a par with local rental costs. No travel costs, they all cycle.

Mine work/worked in the Summer
DS1&2 took a year out and worked
DS2 worked weekends during term time but was very lucky to get that and had to travel for well over an hour to get to his place of work. He only did it in his first year as he struggled with workload

DS3 just won a Uni competition he entered giving him a £500 prize
DS1&2 both got a grant they applied for ( different Unis ) giving them 500 / year and the other £2500 for the course duration
DS3 went to an inexpensive rental area and worked for two years after to fund his masters now in an expensive area

They all pick up jobs as life guards in the summer

Yes agree entirely. Will find my thread but really it’s about private accommodation.

DD in Leics paid less than £100 pw for her shared house, ds in Lboro pays about £6.5k inc bills for the whole year, while a friend has a DC in a shared house in Bristol which is costing £10k a year. Luckily they are able to pay it for them.

Agree
Although always look beyond that first year in halls
Theyll be living for at least for 2 years not in halls and in many places its that accommodation that is more expensive.

of note some Unis have enough housing to allow students to live in halls for the full degree duration

The cheapest way to go to uni is usually to go to a local university and live at home. Is this feasible for your DC? The student loan will cover the fees, they won't have accommodation costs, and any other expenses will be covered by the maintenance loan. They can work part time too of course.