This isn't so much a TAAT but more sort of off the back of a few posts I have seen about sending kids off to university lately.
Is it more common now for parents to pay? I graduated 10 years ago, and whilst I was at University very few of my peers had fees/accommodation paid for. All of us worked, usually Friday/Saturday/Sunday and used that alongside our loans. I only knew one person who had their fees paid for and received a weekly allowance (and even still he took out the maintenance loan without telling his parents and squandered it all on having a very very good time).
But I see more and more threads about parents covering costs, and not many mention jobs. Are students no longer working through University? Or is it just a case now where the loans students get, just is not feasible to live on and cover the rising costs these days?
For me, I couldn't have survived without my PT job and to be honest, my £500 student overdraft. But they did keep me ticking over - I definitely had a lot of beans on toast and super noodle dinners though. I got the minimum loan, as my parents earned just over the threshold but they just couldn't have afforded to pay for me. Not with my siblings at home, mortgage etc. Although in saying that, if I was really stuck they would have made sure I wasn't in trouble of course but at the detriment to their own bills I imagine.
Just wondering out loud really. With a very young baby, I am curious at how much it has all changed. Although in saying that, by the time they go to University (if they want to), it will have changed even more! We're discussing opening a bank account for her, but to be honest it was more for general stuff in her future, maybe a car etc, I hadn't earmarked it for University fees.
You'll find discussions about A Levels and universities on our Further Education forum.
Further education
Uni costs - student/parent paying
MarysMonologue · 29/06/2022 18:37
LilacPoppy · 29/06/2022 18:42
loans are calculated on the basis that the parent will make up the difference from the minimum to maximum loan. So yes you support your child.
YourLittleSecret · 29/06/2022 19:05
Those who's own parents either couldn't or wouldn't help often resent young people who get help from parents. It's the same old argument as for house deposits.
We could help and we did. My DC never had to work in term time, they often worked in holidays, really just to get experience of work.
It has not made them lazy or feckless as some imply. They are both hard working in successful careers now.
My feeling is that they'll be working for 45 years and if I can afford to make their student years easier I will.
titchy · 29/06/2022 19:25
It's insanely rare for parents to pay the full costs. The vast majority do pay the difference between the maintenance loan their child gets and the maximum.
ProfYaffle · 29/06/2022 19:28
I think it's important to make a distinction between paying for fees and helping out with living costs. I don't know anyone who's paying for fees but plenty who are topping up the maintenance loan.
There's no way dh and I could hope to meet fees x 2 for our kids. They will get minimum maintenance loans so we'll be topping that up to the expected amount plus extras like paying for phone.
ProfYaffle · 29/06/2022 19:38
Not being in England probably makes a difference. Don't know if you're in the UK or not but in England parents are explicitly told to top up the maintenance loan with the amount being determined by means test.
Don’t want to miss threads like this?
Weekly
Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!
Log in to update your newsletter preferences.
You've subscribed!
titchy · 29/06/2022 19:40
It's scary to think that this may effect people going to University. I hope it doesn't, but I'm sure it's a big stress for a lot of families to have this expectation over their heads.
There is no indication that it puts people off - far from it. More 'middle' class students go every year.
The system of parental contribution is nothing new btw - parents have always been expected to pay if their income was high enough. Anyone remember deeds of covenant?!
To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.