Is my son going to get in all this bloody student debt for nothing?

[Gameofbones]

We are a very low income family. Ds is set to go to university in September. I’m really proud as he is the first one out of my lot to go.

Now I’m seeing headlines suggesting new lockdowns in September.

He has secured the maximum amount of maintenance loan which with course costs is about £18.5k a year.

I can’t believe he is going to get into all this debt if he is going to have to ‘do uni’ from home!

We are so tight for space, not sure how he is going to manage it.

If your dc went to university last year did they get money back. How did it work?

Another negative here for Media. and a neg for Ravensbourne. Wait till A levels and defer. spend time on research.
Check if the Film/TV course is still running at Salisbury.
We know someone who started that but many of the students had done a fair amount of film making already so they were well ahead.
It is very competitive.

I have a media degree from a Russell Group uni, it's fine but my post graduate degrees are the things people rate. And no I don't work in the media.

@Gameofbones

A person who works in Film and TV industry here.

First of all, you are absolutely right to be proud of your son. Congratulations on this achievement to both of you! I too came from single parent family and we have struggled financially. I too was the first one from family and many relatives to go to university. Just seeing my mom's eyes after I walked up that stage to get congratulated on receiving my degree, made me feel proud too that I was able to ''repay'' her a little for all those years she struggled to raise me.

Secondly, while one does not need degree to start working in Film and TV (everyone starts at the bottom regardless having or not having a degree), it is beneficial to have one. My degree has helped me go through ranks very quickly. I believe it would have taken me longer without degree.

Thirdly, do not worry yourself with student loan. Film and TV industry always struggles to find crew for productions, especially now that lockdowns have fuelled demand for new releases, as there are not enough people in industry. These mean that salaries are high and productions fight for candidates. Within one year in industry I was earning above the threshold for student loan deductions. I see it as another tax and it doesn't bother me much. Also I will be able to pay it off in full (I'm not bragging, just indicating that having student loan is not that scary).

I can't comment on how universities will operate going forward or, if refunds are available. He could defer for a year and meanwhile do some runner/ production assistant jobs to get ''a feel'' of the industry. Or he could give university a try and see how it goes, hopefully we are back to normal life.

Whichever he decides to do, I wish him luck and welcome to the industry

Here are some links:
nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/tv-or-film-production-runner
productionguild.com/training-hub/current-courses/
www.screenskills.com/training-and-opportunities/all/#/

I have a large amount of student loan as I have done 2 degrees (one £3000 a year and later a vocational healthcare degree £9000 a year)
I don't plan to pay them off fully even though I could, a small amount gets deducted from my wages. Hardly noticeable! He would have to be earning over a certain about before that anyway.

Although I feel alot of degrees are just a waste of time, even the healthcare ones! Especially now since covid with online learning only. If he really wants to go to uni to study media, then it's his choice.
There isn't one right or wrong way to go about life. If it turns out to be a waste of time/student loan, there are always other options available in the future. It's important he feels supported with whatever he decides.

I wouldn’t get into debt for a media degree. It’s not worth the paper it’s written on. I’d only go into debt for a vocational degree. It gives more stability. I studied engineering and got a job straight out of uni…my SIL did media studies and now just has debt and a min wage job. It’s a harsh lesson.

@SweetPetrichor

I wouldn’t get into debt for a media degree. It’s not worth the paper it’s written on. I’d only go into debt for a vocational degree. It gives more stability. I studied engineering and got a job straight out of uni…my SIL did media studies and now just has debt and a min wage job. It’s a harsh lesson.

It's media production and it's a vocational degree at a specialist university.

@Gameofbones - wow ignore the vipers!
You should be very proud of ds.
My ds started his first year at uni last year - no course fee reductions but a small accommodation one, it's been online and he's spent a lot of it at home but he has still really enjoyed his independence and experience- going to uni isn't all about the course anyway. Don't let anyone piss on your chips

There are a lot of people making right tits of themselves on this thread.

@hangonamo aren’t there just? It’s the worst of Mumsnet here today.

my dd also enjoys the recorded zoom lecturers

I own a film and TV prod co.
TBH most producers/script editors etc do have a degree, especially the younger ones.
The subject isn’t hugely important. What matters is experience, and university is an excellent place to build a CV if you put yourself out there.
Universities all have radio stations/TV stations/online platforms. There are short films getting made etc etc

Its not debt in the traditional sense. And a degree will always help you along the way. Yes, you may still start at the bottom of the ladder but in my field certain levels of seniority are only open to those with degrees course and university not specified. Educated to degree level is all it says.
Plus the life experience etc. Is a major advantage.

He just needs to make sure he makes the most of the opportunities uni affords.
Which I guess brings us back to your original point about lockdown and how restricted these opportunities might be.

I'm in education and it's not snobbery to suggest media studies is a waste is time.
It generally does not lead to a career in the media.
What are his A level results likely to be?

*of

I'm in education and it's not snobbery to suggest media studies is a waste is time.
It generally does not lead to a career in the media.

Close to 80% of graduate jobs don't specify a particular degree subject so there are an awful lot of graduates going into careers that aren't directly linked to their degree subject.

Providing the students makes the most of their time as a student, no degree is a waste of time.

@MrsKeats

you are in education, you are not all knowing

and anyway @MrsKeats, and others, the op was not asking opinions on what course he should do, he has made the decision. no one needs opinions about that aspect - they were uncalled and unnecessary.

@MrsKeats

I'm in education and it's not snobbery to suggest media studies is a waste is time. It generally does not lead to a career in the media. What are his A level results likely to be?

Pity you're unable to distinguish between Media Studies and Media Production then. Maybe you educate yourself a little more.

(I'm also in eduction FWIW )

@SweetPetrichor

I wouldn’t get into debt for a media degree. It’s not worth the paper it’s written on. I’d only go into debt for a vocational degree. It gives more stability. I studied engineering and got a job straight out of uni…my SIL did media studies and now just has debt and a min wage job. It’s a harsh lesson.

Well your point didn't work so well given he's doing a vocational course, but I will bite anyway.

What do you think would happen to this country if all our graduates just did vocational degrees? We do actually need people to study a range of subjects as we need a range of people to do different types of jobs.

Plenty of us have done academic non vocational subjects (eg English Literature, history, PPE) and got well paying jobs. We need graduates from these sorts of subjects to become secondary school teachers, civil servants and journalists for example. Looking at the government many don't have vocational degrees but are history and PPE graduates.

Yes we need graduates in vocational courses like engineering but not at the expense of all other degrees.

Finally 'not worth the paper it's written on' is just ignorant and rubbish...even if he went into a non media job in the future lots of graduate jobs it's fine to have any degree.

@MrsKeats

I'm in education and it's not snobbery to suggest media studies is a waste is time. It generally does not lead to a career in the media. What are his A level results likely to be?

He could always go into teaching

Ignore the posters on here OP, a family member has a degree in media studies at a much worse university and works for the BFI now in his dream job.

I went to a specialist university after doing an apprenticeship. I was regularly told I was wasting my time and it ‘wasn’t a real university.’ I had the last laugh when I was earning £40,000 a year with accommodation three years after graduation. Those doubters all work in bars.

If your child is passionate about their subject then they’ll be fine. Encourage them to get as much experience as they can and definitely be proud of them! Please don’t listen to all the mean people on here! I was the first from a working class family to go to uni, it was a big deal.

@MrsKeats

I'm in education and it's not snobbery to suggest media studies is a waste is time. It generally does not lead to a career in the media. What are his A level results likely to be?

Great insight. Why not take it to a thread about media studies, instead of this one, which is about media production?

@TheDevils Providing the students makes the most of their time as a student, no degree is a waste of time.

That's the crux at the moment though. Most students can't "make the most of their time" as they're stuck in their bedrooms watching recorded lectures and the occasional live one. Clubs & societies didn't happen last year, and given the rising infection rates, probably won't happen this coming year either. The only "socialising" available at my son's Uni over this past year has been mostly "illegal" partying in eachother's flats. Not only no clubs & societies, his Uni is a collegiate, but all the usual college facilities didn't happen either - the college common room has been closed and locked all year, etc. If, as looks likely, this coming year is going to be as bad as last year, then students graduating in the next 2/3 years aren't going to have gained the contacts, responsibility, experience etc that employers value.

[quote Kazzyhoward]**@TheDevils* Providing the students makes the most of their time as a student, no degree is a waste of time.*

That's the crux at the moment though. Most students can't "make the most of their time" as they're stuck in their bedrooms watching recorded lectures and the occasional live one. Clubs & societies didn't happen last year, and given the rising infection rates, probably won't happen this coming year either. The only "socialising" available at my son's Uni over this past year has been mostly "illegal" partying in eachother's flats. Not only no clubs & societies, his Uni is a collegiate, but all the usual college facilities didn't happen either - the college common room has been closed and locked all year, etc. If, as looks likely, this coming year is going to be as bad as last year, then students graduating in the next 2/3 years aren't going to have gained the contacts, responsibility, experience etc that employers value.[/quote]
I'm not talking about socialising or clubs and societies ( as beneficial as they can be) I'm taking about careers and employability related activities- which certainly did take place last year.