Can’t afford uni

[Floodedflats]

I’ve got a friend who has 5 children her eldest wants to go to uni next year but because of there income he will only get minimum allowance. He’s considering a job part time but it’s a course that he can’t really work along side due to the hours and extra work it’s a very intense course. She can’t support him as they are stretched financially as a family. He can’t afford to go as the money will leave him short after accommodation costs. The uni course isn’t covered at his local uni otherwise he would stay home. What do people do in these situations.

Different course or apprenticeship
Work for a few years and then study
Ask the university for bursaries

It's an utter disgrace

Unless things have changed, isn't this what the Student Loan is for?

Take a year out and work full time to get some money together, then whilst at uni work in the holidays and at weekends.

I'm so sorry for your friend and her son. This is so wrong and replicated all across the country. The expansion of HE and remodelling it into a business has really gone wrong. What's needed is reduced capacity but fully funded university places for the brightest children (so those on low incomes do not need to work at all) and a much bigger expansion of locally available adult vocational courses aimed at workplace needs and available within a reasonable travelling distance no matter where you live.

His best chance is to wait a year or two and gain the experiences that could set him apart enough to apply as an adult learner onto a course with bursaries or a degree apprenticeship. I wish him the best.

Look into degree apprenticeships-a really growing area and means they can learn whilst also earning, and without paying tuition fees!

It's an utter disgrace

Not to say it isn’t, but it’s nothing new. Even when there were zero fees and a grant, the full grant was barely enough to live on with living standards that would be unacceptable today. Anything less was impossible without parental contributions or working part time.

Depends on the household income. You may not be entitled to a loan due to income, but still not afford the course

@Ifailed the maintenance loan is means tested and the OP said he gets the minimum.

Frankly it's a disgusting system. Our kids got the minimum loan because dh and I both work full time in professional (but not massively high paying roles) whereas if we sat on are arses not working, our kids would be entitled to the full amount. Our 2 kids both needed jobs all through Uni but that's not possible with some courses.

Of course, nothing can be done about it now but having 5 children hasn't helped the OP's friend's situation - I mean, most people would probably struggle to afford that many even before factoring in Uni. Many people limit the number of children they have for financial reasons.

Bottom line is though- all students should be entitled to the full loan. They're adults- their parents' incomes should be irrelevant imo.

*our not are

The student loan system is ridiculously unfair.

People work alongside their courses or save up for some time before going. If the course isn’t compatible with work then they work through the holidays. The summer break is long enough to make it worthwhile.

The child will need to work thro uni. Uni will advise against that, but it's the reality for many. Lecture/Uni time is not full time. My DD has Uni about 20h a week and works 20h. There is also self study time, which she does in addition.

Secondly, find a course at a uni that is commutable. Living with parents is a lot more cost effective for families.

Get the kid to use his aunts address and claim that he’s estranged from his parents. He’ll get the full loan then. Or wait a couple of years and then join as a mature student, they don’t take parents income into consideration then.

Take a year or two out to save money and work during university holidays. A lot of a level students have weekend jobs.
My dd is a lifeguard and works all summer and hopes to pick up shifts when studying too.

In his situation I'd advise him to defer a year, work all the hours god sends and save as much as humanly possible. Would his family at least allow him to live rent free to save up?

It's not possible to work on some courses. There are quite a lot of degrees that are 35 hours of teaching a week. Before assignments, etc. A part time job with enough hours to sustain oneself is the difference between passing and failing in that context.

Yes. It' s shit but normal. If he is UK he'll get the standard maintainence loan of £4.2k . He will have approx 20 weeks holiday a year (28 at Oxbridge) . That would be approx £6k pay at 18 yr old min wage.

Other things to consider:
Banks offer 1k free overdraft for each of Y1, Y2 and Y3
Parents should be able to offer something (eg 10 a week) as they will have - - reduced costs in terms of food etc
Could parents rent out his room to another student while he is away (up to 7k a - year tax free)?
Look carefully at uni and choose one with low accommodation costs
Ask relatives for contribution (again

I managed on a full grant

The full loan often doesn't cover rent these days

It is much worse

The minimum student loan barely even covers rent on half decent accommodation.

Not surprised. Has he looked into US unis? Have a look at the Sutton trust?
Degree apprenticeship is the next best thing even if he has to move for it.

Family has a decent income so they should be able to top up his student loan. TBH, if you have 5 kids, you need to be thinking ahead about how you will support them to study. Unfortunately sounds like his parents haven't bothered, so would suggest he applies for a deferred place, earns as much as he can this year, then carries on working in holidays etc. even on courses like medicine lots have a part time job evenings/weekends.

I was in this exact situation. My parents were just above the threshold to receive support. But couldn’t afford for me to go. So I didn’t go to university 🤷‍♀️

University is not the only solution out there. I did ok for myself, despite not going. I have worked my way up and earn £60k+ a year.

Rent is ridiculously high and the standards of accomodation in the private sector are frequently appalling.

A gap year out with a job, would be great if he could get one relevant to course, then he will just have to work through uni. My DC is a medic and had to do this so it is possible.

There's also the option of him taking 3 years out and than applying as an independent so the parents income isn't taken into account and they get the max amount.

I would advise him to look a apprenticeships - loads of organisations do them these days - you have them for law, economics, policy etc.. Often you work 4 days a week and do one day studying at university.