to feel compleetly stiched up but the tuition fees hike?

[Ringadingding]

I studied for a foundation degree a while back and have always planned to go back and sit my final year. Now my kids are older I have the perfect oppertunity.
Idealy I would like to complete the full degree and do a coversion course which would give me much better job prospects in the long run and a better grade of pay too.
I have just been having a look at the courses online and am gobsmacked at the prices. For a course I paid £2300 to do orriginally they are now charging £8200!!! I am happy to pay to study but I am taken aback by this hike in prices and feel as a single mother and mature student I am priced out of the market.
I dont understand how peole are supposed to better themselves and their situation when its going to cost £20,000 just in tuition fee's alone! with a mortgage, bills and 2 very hungry boys to feed I dont think our finances would cope! Obviously I would be paying it back via a student loan but 20k+ without the guarentee of a job is quite frankly off putting.

Just take out the loans. It is really more of a graduate tax than a loan - unless you are a stock broker or something. I know I won't pay it all back, as I have 4 years of loans, the last one as a mature student so had to take the max to pay mortgage etc. Lots of people are not going to pay back their loans. The government just doesn't seem to have realised that the system doesn't work...

Seriously though, look at what grants you can get, from the government and the uni.

Please check out Martin Lewis website on this and why it isn't actually an issue!

I can't link to pages but search tuition fees on

Www.moneysavingexpert.co.uk

Lots of misinformation about the actual impact floating around! Good luck.

When I did my foundation degree I was at uni part time and wracked up a fair amount of debt then. Im just concerned about being in debt by so much.

I guess it cant hurt to take a look at the options and speak to someone at student finance to see how much help I would be entitled to. I was just so shocked to see how much it had gone up by!!!
I felt so excited when I discussed it with my bf earlier and really thought that we would have the chance to better ourselves! Maybe Im just being pessimistic?
I could still work pt whilst I completed the full degree as its only 2 days a week. Im not sure what the conversion course is like hours wise though. I think I will call my lea tomorrow and see what they say.

Ffs check Martin Lewis, you will actually probably not pay back anymore, if he doesn't think it's an issue I can guarantee you it isn't!

I have about 20k already in debt from the orriginal loans. I guess with drs ect 40k in student loans isnt as bad as some will have it.

What are the new loans repayments like? does it go by income? will take a look on money saving expert. thanks

off to have a look now. thanks for the link.

New repayments lower! It might cheer you up :-)

Do not be put off. What rhonda and vj32 said.

I really bothers me that people ARE being put off. The fees are not the best thing to happen but if people are put off by them it would be the worst thing. They shouldnt be but I fear many will be :(

How's kittenboy? (blatant hijack) sorry

It really is off putting. I dont want to cripple us financially chasing my dream job. Who knows when I graduate the job market could be even worse than it is now.
My mum is being incredibly supportive and has said she will help me out if she can.
I do feel a little more optimistic having read the replys on here. thankyou :)

Come back tell us what you think after you read martin?

Although overall loan will be higher, repayments will be lower than under old scheme. It is still worth doing if it is a worthwhile degree! And if you can work part time you're in a better position as well.

wow its pretty heavy going!!! i think I understand the basics of it though and it doesnt seem as bleak as I had initially presumed.

Check the repayment table at the bottom. That's the most relevant really.

where abouts is that rhondajean?

Sorry it's not at bottom, point 7, I just didn't scroll down further cos I was looking for it

Essentially if you're not earning anything, you don't pay anything. If you're not earning much, you don't pay much. If you're earning a whacking great salary, you'll pay a bit more.

Don't let it put you off. Do it!

kids arguing, just sorting them out and will continue reading. Thankyou so much for that link, I never thought to look on there and there is a whole variety of interesting articles.

Im a little confused by that table, surely it will all depend on how much you took as a loan in the first place...or have I just totally missed the bit that explains that?

Kittenboy is just fantasic thank you rhondajean :) I am besotted with him :)

How are you?

I am good - glad he is still great. I miss having a baby! Enjoy!

No - the amount you pay back each month is the same no matter how much you borrow. It's based on what you earn not what you owe,

So if studying will increase earning potential, it's worth it.

You just have to pay back longer - but still overall worth it probably

I have put some pics of him on my profile :)

How old are yours?

University is so worth it and if you can go you should - it is slightly better than having to pay upfront fees which I do think really was a barrier for some people

Yeh I figured it out after re-reading it 100 x's....maybe my brain isnt upto doing a degree anymore! Even if I were earning 40k....it still wouldnt be unmanageable.
I feel a lot better after reading that. It seems like it could be manageable! Yay!

Hooray!

Mines are 7 and 12. I think from your username we may be same age! Min are great in other ways but I miss the small person. Off to look at your pics!