To ask advice

[AnotherUniversityQueryNewbie]

Posting here for traffic.
My dd is 17, recently started 6th form. She told me she'd never mentioned a desire to go to university because I'm a single mum, working, but on UC. She said she knows we'd never be able afford it.

My lovely friend has said if she wants to go to university, he would help financially.

My question is (are)
How much does it cost?
Does she get a grant (I did, but that was 35 years ago)?
How much would he realistically need to set aside for her three years, accommodation and fees?

Apologies if this sounds like a stupid question, but I'm really out of the loop!

Thanks in anticipation of helpful answers 😁

Her school will surely help her with the requirements? Student loans are ubiquitous. Look into those. She can work part time to have cash and would save money if she stayed at home and travelled.

All helpful cheers, but I'm kinda looking for a ballpark figure. I don't even know how much student loans are. I will ask at college, but looking for people's experiences.

Anyone with a teen just starting uni this year who is in a similar situation to me?

The student loan covers all the fees. I am assuming you aren’t living abroad or even in Scotland!

Then there’s a maintenance loan which is given in line with parents income. Your DC should get the full amount.

They can then top this up for vodka and clothes money by working part time or by you or your very lovely friend supporting her financially.

Where your friend might be really useful is if DC moves into private accommodation and needs a guarantor.

Please investigate further. There’s no reason she can’t go.

There are too many variables to give you a ballpark as it depends what she wants to study - for example medicine is more than three years. Where in the country she wants to go - it will cost more to study in London than in Aberystwyth for example. She will likely be eligible for a student loan - again the amount will be dependent on her course, where she goes to study and her personal circumstances. Also if she studies close to home and still lives with you then that will be cheaper of course. What you need to do is sit down her, work out what she thinks she wants to study - she must have an idea because of her A Level choices - and then look at the likely places she can study based on her predicted grades - and take it from there.

I can’t link from my phone but google Martin Lewis student finance.

The fees are paid and they get a maintenance loan that may just about cover accommodation costs. If you live at home the loan is much less. Some universities are much more expensive to live in than others

Many children study with no parental help at all - they get a job in a cafe or the like to cover the difference

for up to date figure https://www.gov.uk/student-finance

some universities will also have grants but they will be few and far between

Martin Lewis is your friend here. But roughly I would say aside from the maximum loans, she will need about £75/ week living costs.

Depending on income and if you’re very very low income she could well
be entitled to more.

Go and do some research but this is not impossible.