How much cash support for DS/DD at Uni??

[happilyconfused]

A finance person came into school to talking about financial planning and I was amazed at the costs he discussed. Without a car, any travel allowance, holidays or tuition fees he estimated that a student would need £7500 a year to live on. That was for a thirty week year and assumed that the rest would be free board and logdings etc from the parents. £7,500 covered food, logding, books, insurance, PAYG phone and a night out per week.

Parents would have to pay for the laptop, tv, fancy phone, transport etc

No wonder these kids are in so much debt! The housing ladder will not be for them as they will not be able to afford the deposit on their own. Will you support you child at Uni or will you let them sink into debt?

Not quite the maximum. We have had a couple of poor years with the business making a loss, so our income is much reduced

We live a rollercoaster life, fat and famine!

I know. It's appalling a labour government introduced university fees! They will be charging for state schools next.
But what is I think happening from this September is that my son pays the £3000 up front per year (which I am paying) or he can defer it until he is earning money which presumablky most will do. So in a sense it is cheaper in terms of immediate cost. Also if your parents are poor you don't even pay the £3000.

You can only defer the fees if you apply for a loan from Student Finance, which is normally through your LEA. You then get a letter which you have to send to your university. Otherwise you'll have to pay it upfront. This loan attracts interest equal to the ratwe of inflation so you should pay back the same in real terms as you borrowed.
btw this only applies to those who applied this year, not anyone who is already on a course or had a deferred place - they continue to pay the old level of fees.