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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

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Original poster

Are any grants available if parents can't help?

143 replies

Yourownpersonaljesus · 21/07/2018 22:48

My DD is of to uni in September. Her maintainance loan will pay for her accomodation and she will have a very small amount left over for living expenses. She does plan on getting a job too. She is really worried that she still won't have enough to live on. I am unable to help her out financially. I know it's expected that parents make up the shortfall but I really can't afford to as I struggle to get by as it is. My pay is okay but my rent takes up a huge chunk of it. I was wondering if universities gave out grants if students are struggling.

OP posts:

BubblesBuddy · 22/07/2018 09:21

Why is she paying the majority of her maintenance loan on rent? I assume she is getting the maximum loan? My DD got the minimum loan and spent that on rent. That was several thousand £ less than the maximum loan. Most on the maximum loan chose cheaper accommodation so the sums added up for both elements of living at university.

I can see the issue if she’s in London, but elsewhere rent should not be taking nearly all of a maximum loan. If she works, she should be ok but the set up seems less than ideal.

BubblesBuddy · 22/07/2018 09:24

Yes, universities can help out. However I think she needs to budget carefully because she’s not worse off than anyone else. Have you been assessed as being required to pay? Did she complete the finance application accurately? Do you need to go back and put in new circumstances?

EvilTwins · 22/07/2018 09:25

A lot of universities give grants for students achieving high grades - what are her A Level grades likely to be? It’s worth looking on the website of the university she’s planning to go to - there will be info there about financial help.

HSMMaCM · 22/07/2018 10:38

It's because student finance only takes your income into account and not your outgoings (or willingness to pay). DD's maintenance loan doesn't even cover her rent. She wrote hundreds of letters asking for extra help and received nothing. She's having to work extra hours to pay for food etc. Student finance said she'd only get more money if we got divorced!

captainoftheshipwreck · 22/07/2018 12:25

DD gets just above minimum loan which was roughly the same as her accommodation cost - she manages the rest by working. We were having a conversation yesterday about the huge differences in finance between her group of friends. It hasn't actually been a problem and she has very quickly learnt to budget but it was a learning curve. Interestingly she is now better off going into her 2nd year than a lot of her friends, having had to save and avoided the temptation of an overdraft!

Original poster

Yourownpersonaljesus · 22/07/2018 13:12

Thanks for the replies. Just worked it out and after she has payed for her accommodation she will have approx £1020 left for the year. The university is in the SE. I am not on a low income (not high either) but have high outgoings including a very high rent for a very small house and my own student loan that I am still paying back. The problem is that outgoings are not taken into consideration. I am also a single parent so have no one to share bills etc with. I would love to be able to help her out but I really can't afford to. Was just wondering if there was any help available for those whose parents cannot afford to help.

OP posts:

BubblesBuddy · 22/07/2018 14:31

Whatever the financial situation with you, does she have another parent to ask for help? Also you have paid for her food, social life, phone, living expenses and clothes whilst she was at school. You are now not responsible for this so can you not pass some of these savings on to her? Seems a bit mean to make savings and then give her nothing.

Original poster

Yourownpersonaljesus · 22/07/2018 14:40

Bubbles She has been working almost full time for the past year and paying towards bills and food. She paid for clothes, social life, phone etc from her earnings. She had a part time job whilst at 6th form and also paid for those things then - though not for food and bills. She took a year out after her a levels (long story). I'm not being mean. Why is it so hard to understand that I simply don't have spare money at the end of the month to give her? And no there isn't another parent to give her money.

OP posts:

Theducksarenotmyfriends · 22/07/2018 14:41

She may be able to access the Guide to Educational Grants or guide for individuals in need at her local library, those are good sources of info of grant-makers. If not, she could try contacting the charity that writes them (DSC) to see if they'd have a search of Grant makers for her.

titchy · 22/07/2018 15:00

The short answer is no. Grants do not exist. If you/she have been assessed as requiring a parental contribution then that is the expectation.

Personally I'd starve, take a second/third job, take in ironing, get a lodger, rent a studio, in order to help her out. In fact I do matched betting which pays for my dd.

You clearly managed to feed her when she was at school, why not now?

Her university will have funds for students in dire financial difficulties, but these will be discretionary and neither of you should rely on these.

Original poster

Yourownpersonaljesus · 22/07/2018 15:11

Thank you theducks I will look into that. titchy I currently work around 60 hours a week so not sure I could fit in another job. I also take work home. I do not currently spend any money on myself (apart from food) so I really couldn't cut back on anything. I don't drink, smoke, go out and only buy new clothes when mine fall apart. I can't remember the last time I went to the hairdressers. Yes I did manage to feed her when she was at school but really struggled for money and had to borrow to get by. I really didn't want to go into my financial situation but some people really can't seem to understand what it's like to have no money. She is even talking about not going now because of finances - that's why I asked the question.

OP posts:

Imchlibob · 22/07/2018 15:44

I can't imagine being a parent of a child showing academic promise and not making preparations to save for their university education for as many years as possible. But you are where you are.

Lots of universities will give scholarships - typically £1k to £3k per year - to students arriving with the very best A-level grades (exact triggers will vary by university as obviously some courses are full of students with 3 or more A grades). There may also be bursaries, which some universities target at exactly your situation - ie those too rich for the government loan to be more than the bare minimum but much less than what would be needed to be able to give the thousands of extra needed for a student to get through their course making ends meet.

Your DDs best hope may be to shop around during the clearing process if she has good grades - she can be released from her firm-accepted offer if the uni she was planning to go to can't offer financial assistance but another one can.

MyFriendFlicker · 22/07/2018 15:51

The maintenance loan does take into account the student's means. That's why you are expected to contribute to top it up to the maxium loan of £8700.
You will actually find that you save money when she goes, lower food bills, lower electricity bills etc. Plus you presumably give her some kind of allowance now which would stop?
There are sometimes small bursaries available at unis but again targeted at poorer students who get the full loan.

Furrycushion · 22/07/2018 15:52

If she has £1000 left out of her maintenance loan, a part time job would easily bump her up to earning enough to live on. My DC's are fortunate that we can afford to pay their rent & they live on their (minimum) loan. DD always has enough to fund a holiday & DS has a job so is not short. There are plenty of jobs to be had in university towns although you do have to get in quickly.

titchy · 22/07/2018 15:57

I really didn't want to go into my financial situation

Perhaps if you did others might be able to give you ideas of how to reduce expenditure.

If your rent is high, why can't you move? You must be earning £30k plus, so take home what, £1700 a month.

SharronNeedles · 22/07/2018 16:04

She will be fine.
When I went to uni, my maintenance loan didn't even cover my rent in first year, i was about £500 short for the year. I never got any help from the uni, any grants or bursaries. We were warned by our course tutor that we shouldn't have jobs outside of the course as it was too important to stay focussed but I had no choice! I held down part time work all three years and took any cash in hand job going. If you plan well, it's completely doable. I had a job, my uni course work and classes, a boyfriend and a social life all funded by me. Finished uni with a 2:1 and walked straight into an amazing job and was able to travel the world.

ketchupofthegods · 22/07/2018 16:05

I can't imagine being a parent of a child showing academic promise and not making preparations to save for their university education for as many years as possible. But you are where you are.

How rude of you - this assumes that the OP has had the financial capability in the past. I'm sure the OP would help IF SHE COULD.
OP, I get it. If you're like me then you'd give your eye teeth to give your dd what you could but you can't give what you just haven't got. I'm sure you're encouraging your dd to go as once she's there I'm sure with a job she'll manage as she'll have to.
It sucks but it it is what it is

VioletCharlotte · 22/07/2018 16:17

There's some really awful replies on here. Why do people find it so hard to understand that the maintenance loan does not take account of outgoings? A single parent has to pay all the bills by themselves, so even on a reasonable salary, it can still be a real struggle.

I'm in a similar position OP. I'm relieved my DS has decided to live at home as it would have been a real stretch to have to try and find money to give home to live on at uni.

MummytoCSJH · 22/07/2018 16:19

If she has supported herself financially for 3 years before starting her course she can apply for independent student status. Is this something she can look into based on her job as you say she's been paying for everything for herself herself? She would get a higher loan if this was the case.

SpiderDance · 22/07/2018 16:24

It depends on your income and what the University offer. Last year I got £3500 in grants from my University. You are really best speaking to them and they can give you advice specific to your circumstances.

I'm sure your daughter will be fine though if she has a part-time job. There will still be plenty of time to study (there will just be less time to go out spending money).

Ariela · 22/07/2018 16:24

She has £1K from her loan, she should be able to manage to earn at least £50-100/week, and then she has the holidays to work too? Not really sure of the issue, as that should be plenty for her to live on, a student really only needs food, basic phone (use Uni wi-fi for data), travel to and from home (rail card is good), and shouldn't need much in the way of clothing - and for you your bills will be lower (don't forget to advise council tax to revert to single person discount)

BubblesBuddy · 22/07/2018 16:42

You have not said what maintenance loan she is actually getting. You have not said if her accommodation is the cheapest or not. You will save when she’s not around.

I don’t understand why you are paying such a high rent when you know your DD was going to university and you would be assessed to pay towards her. Is it really not possible to pay less because in your original post your very high rent was the problem.

As you have been assessed to pay (assuming you have) you cannot be the worst off in society. I accept you are probably not due in work benefits but I think a bit more planning should have taken place because in effect your DD has subsidised your spending decisions by working and giving money to you. You are going to miss it and no doubt it’s causing problems. Plenty of people are in your earnings bracket and manage. I understand poverty, coming from a family as poor as church mice, but we cut our coat etc.

Original poster

Yourownpersonaljesus · 22/07/2018 16:47

Thank you Imchlibob for making me feel even worse than I did about not being able to support my child through uni. You have clearly never struggled financially - lucky you.
Thank everyone else for the helpful messages. As I said previously she is planning on getting a job whilst there and even spoke to someone there about jobs on the open day. It's reassuring to hear that some are managing fine in a similar situation. Maybe I'm worrying for no reason. Obviously if I am better off without her at home I will send her some money but I didn't want to promise her this in case I couldn't.

OP posts:

Original poster

Yourownpersonaljesus · 22/07/2018 16:52

titchy I could move to a one bedroom house/ flat but then my daughter wouldn't have anywhere to sleep in the holidays. My rent is the going rate for where I live and I'd rather not move to another area as I need to consider getting to work. Thanks for the suggestions though.

OP posts:

gillybeanz · 22/07/2018 16:56

I can't imagine being a parent of a child showing academic promise and not making preparations to save for their university education for as many years as possible. But you are where you are.

What a stupid thing to say, there are some very dim people on here.

When I went to uni, recent past, there were several I knew dropped out half way through. All of them were funded by their parents.
If your kids need you to pay for them as grown ups imch You've been a pretty shit parent
HTH

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