Staying at home for University

[Orangesandlemons77]

Reading in the papers that since Covid and with the cost of living as well, more Universities are having applicants from students living at home.

Wondered what others thought of this? I have a DS who will be applying this year, and yes think he may be applying to one nearby.

@Orangesandlemons77

Yes, but are these the best universities for his subject and for him developing as a person? Also if grads earn next to nothing they have had a massive handout from the government!

@CurlyhairedAssassin
The huge problem with that scenario is that people who can afford it will make sure their dc get to the more desirable universities. The stay at homes limit where they go, what jobs they get and ultimately what they earn. The parents with no money have DC who can choose because their DC get full loans and bursaries. It’s the average person with several going to uni that really struggle when they have to pay. They put pressure on DC to stay at home but it might not be in the interests of DC at all.

Can I ask, do the loans they get now cover accomodation costs? With the cost of living the way it is it still do-able to stay away? Compared to the loans for staying at home? DC could probably get a weekend job and has money from a child trust fund, (but would prefer that to be saved for the future really)

@Orangesandlemons77 depends on the uni. The min loans can cover the cheapest halls. (It does for Warwick and for Newcastle). But it does not for Nottingham etc.

OK, juts I remember that after that first year in halls, the university expected students to find private rented accomodation for at least the next year...private rents are pretty high atm...the costs worry me a bit.

massive handout from the government with the recent changes I think most may end up paying it back for a long time, I think it has just changed to until they are 60 and a lower threshold for repayment also.

@Orangesandlemons77 I think at some unis you can reapply for halls. (And if you just book it as soon as it opens up for y2&3 you get the room)

I think at some unis you can reapply for halls.

If you have extenuating circumstances or if there is enough halls accommodation it is possible, but most universities only have sufficient halls accommodation for first years, so private rental for year 2 onwards is the norm.

DD is in Newcastle and private rental is no more expensive than halls, and is often cheaper @Orangesandlemons77.

@RampantIvy the cheapest Newcastle hall I have found is £3.7k a year

Can a private rental be afforded with ONLY the min living costs loan? Implicitly they expect parents to cover the shortfall but how often does that actually happen?

[quote ilikemoviesandtheatre]@RampantIvy the cheapest Newcastle hall I have found is £3.7k a year[/quote]
Yes. It's Castle Leazes. The halls are rather dated and shabby. It's cheap for a reason.

Dd and her Bf have a private rental.
They have no parental contributions.

If a DC is on minimum loan of course parents should make up the shortfall. To the level of the max loan is reasonable.

Yes the cheaper halls are a bit shabby but they will be full. My DD1 had pretty shabby accommodation and it made no difference to her enjoyment of university. Who thought going to uni would be en suite and all frills? It’s still better to go to the best uni as opposed to a local less good one. Although I accept courses vary and universities vary. Just don’t trade down too far.

I think students make money at home as parents don’t charge realistically and the students run cars. The whole Idea of getting a degree is to earn more. RG universities and a few others will help DC on their way better than other universities: so says the IFFS. So over a lifetime, it’s worth it to aim high. It’s also worth a bit more in rent to be at Durham over Northumbria (if you are Durham calibre).

I think it remains to be seen what percentage of loans are paid off in the future. If too many students have average wage jobs, for a long time, or work part time for years, they won’t pay off the loans. Even over 40 years! If it makes a huge difference to student take up of accommodation, it might make the accommodation cheaper. Supply and demand.

£3.7k for halls??? Wow that’s amazingly cheap! DD1 at Durham where first year catered and shared bathroom (1 between 10) was £7-8k. DD2 has firmed York and it’s much the same albeit with an en suite.

its a myth that the uni type is important - a 1st from a low uni is better than 2.1 from red brick uni

no one cares

things are so competitive, grades and experience are vital

Not all parents can afford to pay anything towards costs regardless of their assessment.

Red brick unis are very over rated,

Grades matter.

its a myth that the uni type is important - a 1st from a low uni is better than 2.1 from red brick uni

Is it? So a first from Anglia Ruskin is better than a 2.1 from Manchester?

IMO yes. Mumsnet exists in another universe to me. We recruit high calibre graduates - we don't care uni, we care grade and experience. A 1st from a local uni vs 2.1 from red brick is no brainer. Similarly a kid froma local comp who worked his way through to a 2.1 would be recruited against a private kid who had a 2.1 with no work experience. Its added value,.

I must admit I get quite impatient at clingy parents who post on social media stating that they are sobbing at the idea of their DC going to university

Totally agree. I have to sit on my hands to not say as much n those posts on WIWIKAU

Can I ask, do the loans they get now cover accomodation costs? With the cost of living the way it is it still do-able to stay away?

Overwhelmingly, yes. If you are talking about the full loan. You will get a lot of people saying 'no' on here I suspect, as many folk will get the minimum loan. (which is far less likely to cover accommodation).

Parents are expected to make it up to the full loan, but the way the amount of loan is calculated is a very coarse measure and doesn't take account of the parents other outgoings - be that a bigger mortgage , other debts, or the fact they might have 3dc at University at the same time.
Costs of halls vary.
Students' expectations vary.

My son is half way through first year all from home. He has loved it!

The first year is when the friendships are made though, and that tends to be in halls rather than in lectures. Both my dc made friends with the people they lived with, not really many on their course. If anything, I'd say it's better to go in halls first year, then move home after that if it's what you want.

@Watapalava
A first from a low grade uni is absolutely not the same as a 2:1 from a top flight university. It can be subject dependent but it’s always better to aim high. Employers want the best candidates and most don’t value comp over private or local uni over Oxbridge. Unless they are a social service type company with a biased (and unfair) recruitment policy. Most recruiters do not show bias against school or university attended. They test for the required knowledge and skills regardless of background.

It’s an interesting concept that a black child of parents who scrimped and saved for them to attend a private school and then went to Oxbridge where they got a 2:1 would be discriminated against!

It’s interesting that “experience” of work is mentioned. Sometimes meaningful experience is difficult for students but of course easy for mature applicants who graduated 10 years ago. Also easy if parents are in a position to find it for the student. Sometimes it’s little to do with the student being a go getter.

@Benjispruce4
You cannot compare catered and not catered prices. The Newcastle hall is not catered. Most uni halls are not catered. If students want catered it’s obviously £2000 more plus. En suite adds loads too. You must compare like with like. Modern halls are nearly always more than 70s built ones.

However if finances are tight, students should look closely at all the options..

Our criterion for grad entrants in my department is that they have a minimum 2:1. We don’t care where it’s from.

@TizerorFizz obviously going to be more to be catered and en-suites but even the non catered rooms are £6k. So £3.7 is very cheap. If only my DC would’ve chosen cheaper universities.

@ArtVandalay
That’s the case nearly everywhere. School and university shouldn’t matter. However research shows RG students earn more and some subjects are far better than others, eg economics and medicine.

As for work experience, yes DD bemoans the fact that lots of her Durham fellow students have contacts for internships. It’s a real eye-opener to see how the privileged make their way.