Dd wants to go to uni

[mrsmitch01]

Hi guys
My eldest daughter is in her first year of A levels and has had an interest in going to uni for a very long time. She would like to do an English or Business degree but would like to go away for it to have the whole experience. Does anyone know if she stays at home for uni, what financial support do you get as parents?
We are a family on full benefits as my husband is ill. We know that you can get loans and grants for her tuition and living expenses if she chooses to go away, but unsure what will happen once child benefit stops and child tax credits.

I don't know the answer but don't let it put her off going. I do know that she only has to pay off a student loan once she is earning over a set amount but not sure what the amount is these days.

When I was a student I worked on Saturdays and did occasional bar work and worked during the summer hols. Maybe she could do that?

It's great that she wants to go. I wish her every success.

I don't know for definite either - I don't think you will get anything extra for her but she will get a grant. Her student card will give her quite a lot of discounted things - transport, consumer goods etc.

Have a look here

www.gov.uk/student-finance/extra-help

I'm sure she can do it if she is keen!

Depending which University she chooses and what your exact family income is she may be eligible for significant additional money as well as the government grants and loans. Universities all had to set up "widening participation" bursary systems to help students from lower income families as a condition of being allowed to charge higher fess, but the exact cut-off and amount offered varies from place to place.

You and your DH need to start getting used to living without the child benefit and child tax credits - this has to happen anyway, as she is growing up and will stop being a child, but you have some time to work out how to restructure your lives to take this into account. Of course you will have less expenses once she has left - lower bills etc - and could you think about downsizing to a smaller home or taking in a lodger?

I understand things are very difficult but please don't stop her going to Uni.

Child benefit and tax credits will stop once she completes her A levels irrespective of whether or not she goes to uni. Is this what you meant?

You don't get any support as parents.

She can get her loans, but you won't get anything.

All her benefits will stop at 18 too.

My partners son lives at home and goes to uni. He pays 'keep' out of his loan and also works part time.
In all honesty you might be wiser encouraging her to go away not only to spread her wings but also because if she starts contributing it may affect other incomes eg housing benefit.
There are lots of loans, bursarys, etc available for those especially for first generations to go to Uni.

Your benefit entitlement towards her stops - child benefit, child tax credits, etc. She will receive the full maintenance loan plus apply to the university for her to receive a bursary. She will be classed as an adult and have loans and funds in her name.

Thank you all so much for the replies. I know that I would stop getting benefits for her, but wasn't sure exactly what happens and when. I've always encouraged her to get as much education as she can possibly get as it's much harder to go back to it once you're older. I'm all for her going away as she is very independent anyway and I think she will cope just fine. It's scary how they grow up so fast, but I feel very proud of her.

She is lucky to have your support. When she decides which universities she is potentially interested in, she can have a look on their websites and they will have lots on info about Financial support for students. The student room website also has lots of info.

She'll be eligible for a tuition fees loan, a maintenance loan of about £4000 and a maintenance grant of about £3,500 if your household income is under about £25,000. A partial grant will be awarded to students with a parental household income between £25,000 and about £42,000. She only has to pay the loans back, not the grant. A lot of universities will offer a bursary to a student on a maintenance loan, the amount of which will vary depending on the university. This should give her enough to live off during the year, if she's careful with her money, and she may be able to supplement it with a job in the holidays.

Hardship issues at university tend to be in the cases of students with a parental house-hold income about the £42,000 mark, so they're not eligible for any loans or bursaries, but the parents don't have the additional money to top up the maintenance loans that will barely cover accommodation fees.

I think one element for your DD to consider is where to go to university based on cost of living. This should not be the only factor taken into account, however, it is well known that Nottingham and Leeds have cheaper private student accommodation than, say, Bristol, for example, which is important when living out from the university accommodationin the second year. In lots of universities, the cost of first year accommodation provided by the university is more than the maintenance loan. Therefore the gap has to be plugged by parental income or the maintenance grant, which, hopefully, she will get. You may well have to top her up for food and travel but you would have to do that at home. Many students in this situation do summer holiday jobs to save some money or jobs at university but they are not always easy to find - lots of people want them! Some courses can be very busy too, eg medicine, vet science, engineering etc so students have little time to do a job.

As she is now in year 12, she should urgently start booking university open days if she can. Lots of them are in June and September. At least download the course information and accommodation details about the universities she is interested in so you get a picture of the courses and costs. This starts her selection process as to where will meet her needs.