To think poor students will still be able to go to uni and now it will be fairer on ALL students !

[bereal7]

I've read a few ridiculous comments from posters complaining that their children won't be able to afford university. This is bullocks ; the loans will still be there and even higher now. On top of this, they don't have to be repaid until you are earning more than £21k. Therefore, there is no reason why poorer students can't afford university.

If anything, this is now a fair system. It was not right that some students could get such high grants and loans that they don't have to work whilst other only got the bare minimum and have to work - sacrificing their studies - just because their parents earnt more. Those who didn't have to work would be more likely to pass and have higher paying jobs but not have to pay back as much. It was a ridiculous and unfair system which penalised people whose parents were earning more on paper and I welcome this change. Everyone who wants to , and gets the grades, can go to uni but will have to pay back the loans the same as everyone else once they graduate. Aibu to think poorer students will still be able to go university?

So annoyed by the comments and hysteria so I'm sure there's a few typos in there - apologies

[Gemauve]

I don't know what she's going to do now but will talk to her tonight and see if we can find some resolution.

Are you reading what people are telling you, or are you determined to limit your daughter's options for no good reason?

Today's announcement will make no difference to her finances unless she gets a high paid job, in which case it will make a difference to her outgoings between the age of 45 and 50. That's it.

[FreudiansSlipper]

They do not take student loans into account when assessing mortgage affordability

not at the moment no. but that has to change at some point. how can you have a 40k debt (at least) at still be able to borrow 200k

it has to change of course in time it will impact other loans or people unless earning a very high wage will stay in debt for all their life

yes everyone can borrow this money and as long at they have the grades can attend university but it is foolish to believe that graduates with huge debts will be able to borrow in the same way as others who have little or no debt

i got a £300 a year grant the rest was a loan to see me through uni plus working. i have just graduated with a large debt i do not think it will impact myself as i already have a property but i think once ds goes to uni it will

[Gemauve]

how can you have a 40k debt (at least) at still be able to borrow 200k

(Again)

Because the monthly outgoings, which are assessed for mortgage affordability, are not linked to the amount of the loan. It makes no short to medium term difference whether you have £27k or £54k under the current rules, because of how the repayments are structured.

[UhtredOfBebbenburg]

Dawndonna I had no idea they are abolishing DSA! How will that work in terms of University access policies then? Many of them are framed in terms of 'if you qualify for DSA we will do x y and z as necessary'. This includes things like study support, extra time etc. for people with SpLDs and AS. Shit.

[Ber2291]

I agree with the change but for different reasons. I hope it will change the way university is viewed. I.e. That people will consider whether they can afford it and then less people go and then hopefully have a knock on effect that university is no longer seen as so essential. Of course for many careers it is and I do see that you learn more than just what you study.

However, i feel sad almost every day that my DH was needlessly funnelled into university and ended up in a career he hates. I wish it had been Considered a totally equal and valid option for him not to go to university and to do a totally different career. But because he was privately educated it was assumed he would of course go to university earn a 'respected' degree and go into a 'respected' job. He would be so so much happier (and quite possibly richer!) if he was doing something with his hands.

I would like it to be that when my children grow up a university type career (eg publishing) and a non university type career (eg gardening) are given equal value.

[FreudiansSlipper]

that is now though

if you have in 20 years 40% of people at the age of 21/22 with such huge debts before they have even worked full time something has to change

these debts are more than what many will be earning in 2 or 3 years more for many, either many will be written off or changes on how much is paid back each month will change and that will impact mortgages, or it will partly be taken into account something has to give at some point the debt can not just disappear

i just do not believe that with so many in the future leaving university never having worked full time with such a huge debt it will not impact their financial future

[sashh]

Does your son not get disability allowance to cover extra costs?

DLA/PIP is for LIVING, studying needs different equipment / people.

So you might need someone to go to the library to carry books for you, you might need to record lectures on a dictaphone, you might need someone to take notes for you.

A professional note taker is about £17-20 ph, a BSL / English interpreter can be more, if you are profoundly deaf the only way to make sense of the lecture is to have both there at the same time and if you are profoundly deaf you may need some support with written English so someone to look over an essay.

Top rate DDA for CARE is £82.30 a week, someone who is profoundly deaf is unlikely to be on more than the minimum of £21.80 a week, so that's 1/2 an hour's lecture you have full access to.

[Samcro]

"Also DDA you sound very defeatist about your dd's chances of finding work. I hope your attitude doesn't affect hers.'

Good god do people really think being disabled and getting a job is so easy??

[Headofthehive55]

I've always felt it rather wrong to base a system like this on parental income. The implication is that parents who have a decent level of income somehow supplement their offspring's loan. I know of quite a few who don't; the student is left thing to manage on a small loan and what ever they can get parents to pay for.

It will also remove the issue of divorced parents claiming grants because the student was resident with the lower earner.

Increasing the numbers going to university was always going to have the effect of reducing money available for student support and reduce the job premium of a degree.

I'd like to see more condensed degrees; thus reducing the need to spend quite so much on rent as the student could be studying all year round properly rather than long summer holidays.

[GeorgeYeatsAutomaticWriter]

Not sure how condensed degrees are going to work in a context where there is concurrent pressure on academics to be research-active.

[Dawndonnaagain]

rather than long summer holidays.
Those long summer holidays are there for a reason, marking exams, preparing the following years courses, teaching summer schools, doing research etc. It's not just the students that need them, the lecturers do too. I needed to catch up on new research done over the previous year and incorporate that, as well as doing my own research. Universities expect most of their lecturers to have published work too, so that needs to be done and we don't just mark the 3rd year work, we're doing 1st and 2nd year too.

[Headofthehive55]

I understand that there would be massive implications george but if it could be done it would be of help to students debt problem.

[GeorgeYeatsAutomaticWriter]

Agree with Dawndonnaagain

And really, every June I am so drained after the end of the second semester and all the demands of the academic year, I simply can't envisage being able to face into a third summer semester.

[Hillingdon]

I agree, higher education isn't a right to be paid for by someone else..

I think we have gone too far the other way and now 50% go to university, yet I cannot get a plumber to do some jobs. Booked until August and even then he cannot promise anything

[StoneCuttersStreet]

Totally agree Hillingdon. The intention was to level out by making it possible for everyone to go to university but the effect has been that it's made 'working class' job totally undesirable for any young people.

[Dawndonnaagain]

So, no matter how bright and academic you are, you don't get the same life chances as the rich. Nice.

[Gemauve]

I think we have gone too far the other way and now 50% go to university, yet I cannot get a plumber to do some jobs

Perhaps you should retrain as a plumber and get rich?

I'm also not entirely clear why people can't have degrees in English Literature for their inner life and train as plumbers.

[Ber2291]

Well obviously the whole system needs an overhaul. There should be grants in place for genuinely exceptional people who are going to do essential degrees like engineering and medicine. Less help for those who are doing media type degrees (I am one of those people by the way and while i had a great time at university I think the government and I wasted a huge amount of money on me doing that degree).

[StoneCuttersStreet]

Of course they can but why should the state pay for that degree if it isn't needed for their career?

[TooExtraImmatureCheddar]

Surely a lot of student loans are never paid back in full, and that number will now increase. Who takes the hit on that? The government? Or is the deficit covered by interest paid by others?

[Gemauve]

Of course they can but why should the state pay for that degree if it isn't needed for their career?

Because people will pay for it by repaying their loans. Since when was there an obligation for people to work in the field of the degree?

[CandOdad]

There is no "interest" as such since Amy increase is suppose to be in line with inflation

[StoneCuttersStreet]

I'm not saying there is I'm just saying that looking forward if you want to do a degree that youI by need to do then you can pay for it.

[UhtredOfBebbenburg]

There is already a large black hole in the national finances as a result of student loans which will never be repaid. This will now get bigger. And a government down the line will reap what is being sowed now. Or rather - taxpayers will.

[StoneCuttersStreet]

Just in the interest of Changing this culture that one must do a degree.