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Original poster

Can’t afford uni

181 replies

Floodedflats · 25/10/2023 13:01

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.

OP posts:
gotomomo · 25/10/2023 15:07

If engineering there's funding available from the military but you need to be willing to sign up for a certain number of years

Ponderingwindow · 25/10/2023 15:09

Ideally, Start saving when your child is born so that you can help them when the time comes.

its not the eldest child’s fault that there are 5 children and the household income is spread so far. As a parent, I would find a way to pick up extra work and pay my share.

ConflictofInterest · 25/10/2023 15:12

They do what a lot of people do and have always had to do. You work from 16 and save up, then defer for a year ideally living at home or somewhere live-in and work and save up. Live in halls if cheap enough or a house share, you live off the bare minimum, you work as much as you can around uni lectures (there's a surprising amount of free time) and of course in the long holidays-bonus if you can return home and only pay a retainer for the student accommodation (this is common) , take out the maximum loans that you can. This is what I did with no parent support and what people will still have to do. There is also other options like paid degree level apprenticeships and paid work with training that are worth looking into.

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RB68 · 25/10/2023 15:13

I would reiterate the get a job and work to build savings and expect to work on course e.g. 2 shifts a week evening or weekend. Its tough. DD is in London her rent is approaching 280 a week without food, she doesn't get a full loan allowance and what she gets covers less than 50% of her accom. We pay the other half and 200 a month to cover food, but its not enough in London with travel costs so she works sat and sun which is touch means she can't make it home etc except very limited times. Her course is scheduled M to W and open THur Fri but she has all sorts of tasks to do in that time involving others. I would suggest they can afford to contribute if they are not at home - but it may not be the full amount needed e.g. 200 a month might be doable etc. They also may need to compromise on course, uni and what accom they go to.

androidnotapple · 25/10/2023 15:16

baileybrosbuildingandloan · 25/10/2023 14:25

Could you fund your child at £10k a year? You're lucky if you can!

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I wouldn't have five kids if I couldn't afford to at least help them at university

Chchchanging · 25/10/2023 15:19

Look at different unis as rent varies massively.
Leicester is v cheap for instance. There are shared bathroom halls (private) for £107 pw. DS stayed in an ensuite one for £115pw. He is in exactly the same hall (and I mean identical down to the carpets and curtains!) this year in Bristol and it's £189pw....
The min loan would just about cover that accommodation in Leicester. He might be able to work enough in summer hols to cover the v basic living expenses for term time. Possibly. If he worked full time for the whole of summer straight after A levels- its a long summer.

Chchchanging · 25/10/2023 15:21

Sheffield also an affordable uni.

TigerRag · 25/10/2023 15:25

Open uni / part time?

Ginmonkeyagain · 25/10/2023 15:29

I was lucky enough to go to university just before fees but had no parental support (my single dad was on a very low income).

I managed with a small grant, the maximum loan I was eligible for, maxing out my student overdraft, working every holiday and picking up part time work during term time. It was tight but I did it.

Beezknees · 25/10/2023 15:30

You need to think about these things before deciding to have 5 children. I know hindsight and all that but as someone who can barely afford one child I'd have had NO chance with 5. I stuck at one child for financial reasons, among others. My DS will get the full loan when he goes but he'll still have to get a part time job and maybe even have no choice but to go to the local uni so he can live at home as I'm really not in a position to help much.

Woollyguru · 25/10/2023 15:37

Take a year off and work full time. He only needs to save around £12k to cover 3 years of uni if he also works during 4 month summer holidays.

Chewbecca · 25/10/2023 15:42

Beezknees · 25/10/2023 15:30

You need to think about these things before deciding to have 5 children. I know hindsight and all that but as someone who can barely afford one child I'd have had NO chance with 5. I stuck at one child for financial reasons, among others. My DS will get the full loan when he goes but he'll still have to get a part time job and maybe even have no choice but to go to the local uni so he can live at home as I'm really not in a position to help much.

The full maintenance loan is sufficient for most students to live on with no parental top ups or part time jobs so don't worry and no need to study locally.

EwwSprouts · 25/10/2023 15:44

Tell us the course and there may be knowledge of specific bursaries for that subject. You say the course is too intensive for working p/t but there are still the holidays. A friend's DS earned over £1k at McDonalds just at Easter.

Wouldyouguess · 25/10/2023 15:47

Woush · 25/10/2023 13:14

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.

My course was a lot more and I had a ridiculous amout of prep for it (readings, practicals, etc), I was not even able to do the weekend work. Just saying, not all courses are equal.

AndreyMal · 25/10/2023 15:48

Try to focus on your life and work, gain experience and maybe once you will find a company that will be eager to pay for your studies in order for you to work for them.

Beezknees · 25/10/2023 15:50

Chewbecca · 25/10/2023 15:42

The full maintenance loan is sufficient for most students to live on with no parental top ups or part time jobs so don't worry and no need to study locally.

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Is it? I thought the loan was around 9 grand, that's enough to live on for the year?

dicedicebaby · 25/10/2023 15:51

Family has a decent income so they should be able to top up his student loan

How do you work that out? You don't know what their exact income or outgoings are. The loan system doesn't take into account your mortgage, your commuting costs, nursery fees that you might have for younger children. The whole loan system is a cock up.

Bambooshoot · 25/10/2023 15:56

Isn’t that one of the decisions you make when starting your family though? I mean, only some millionaire could afford to put five children through university - it can’t be a shock to the parents only now?

BeyondMyWits · 25/10/2023 16:12

We knew when the kids started secondary school that they would probably be looking at going to uni. And that they'd get just above the minimum loan and we'd be expected to top it up. We saved.
The kids got to 16 and got part time work in hospitality. They then took a gap year during covid, and ended up one in a call center and one as an exam invigilator and reprographics tech. in a school. They saved.

There are ways, you have to be prepared to prioritise their education as do they. Two at uni at the same time was always a possibility for us so we have had an interesting time making those ends meet, but they/(we) are in the final year... looking forward to the riches when we regain around £1000 a month next year!! In full Del Boy mode This time next year...

RudsyFarmer · 25/10/2023 16:17

Bambooshoot · 25/10/2023 15:56

Isn’t that one of the decisions you make when starting your family though? I mean, only some millionaire could afford to put five children through university - it can’t be a shock to the parents only now?

It’s sounds like it’s a shock to the child more than the parents.

Overthebow · 25/10/2023 16:19

baileybrosbuildingandloan · 25/10/2023 14:23

Enough for all living costs for 3 years?! Rent, Food, transport, utilities? Save about 30k in a year?! I'd like a job like that!

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Well no, there are student loans available for higher income families so the majority of costs will be covered by that. It's estimated that a £500 contribution from parents would be needed per month to supplement the lower rate loans, so an £18k job job would be sufficient to save enough for uni, plus then work in the holidays for anything more needed.

Flossflower · 25/10/2023 16:22

Bambooshoot · 25/10/2023 15:56

Isn’t that one of the decisions you make when starting your family though? I mean, only some millionaire could afford to put five children through university - it can’t be a shock to the parents only now?

Yes totally agree. Few people can afford 5 children. If a person is not getting a full loan it is because part is being assessed as a parental contribution. A parent would be falling short by not providing this contribution. They have had plenty of time to save.

honeyandfizz · 25/10/2023 16:30

Pumpkinspie · 25/10/2023 14:07

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.

Good that it worked out for you but kids should be given a choice. I will never understand why student funding doesn't work in the same way in England as it does Wales. I am in the stupid situation where I cannot work any overtime (nurse) because it will affect my two dc funding the more I earn the less they get so I don't work over. Having two together is also not taken into account - it is madness.

Desecratedcoconut · 25/10/2023 16:33

I mean, I'll be paying a contribution to my kid's uni overheads but I don't think university falls under one of life's necessities, whereby it could be said that a parent is falling short if they don't pay it. There are many ways that an adult child can tackle the logistics of going to university that don't rely on a parent having to stump up and forgo other children just so they can have an easy run of things.

Nutellaonall · 25/10/2023 16:36

If it were me I would tell him to take the place but defer entry and take a year out to work full time. He will be in a better frame of mind to work once he gets to u I also as he will have seen what it is to graft for a year.
I took a year out before my uni course and it did me the world of good. Some of that was traveling but a lot was working ( in the field I chose to study) and was much better for it than if I had gone straight to uni.