How Expensive

[nomdegrrr1]

Son would like to go to Cambridge to study computer science. Apparently he has a reasonable chance of getting there, but it's hard to know as he is still in Yr10.

There is not a huge amount of money in the household, but willing to do what we can to support if he makes it. How expensive is it to be a student at Cambridge? How much should we save? No grandparents or relatives that can help, so it's just what we can sort out.

He may never get anywhere near there, but I would like to be prepared.

Cambridge is fantastic value for money - a world class university for the same costs (sometimes lower) as others.

Not sure if this has been mentioned, but wherever he goes (we're fortunate to have quite a lot of other excellent unis!) there's a reasonable chance he'll be able to get some sort of scholarship, well worth looking out and applying for those in due course. Also if they're at a good uni and particularly STEM subjects they should be able to get decent paid internships during the summer vacation. (The Xmas and Easter ones should ideally be left for consolidation, revision and a bit of R&R)

We visited Cambridge recently and got chatting to a student. He said that accommodation tended to be in the region of £400pm, less than my DD paid last year in Edinburgh - £560pm (looking more like £590pm next year). We didn't notice that it was particularly expensive in terms of being our own accommodation, eating out and generally being a tourist.

DD had an interview for Cambridge for this years intake and unfortunately rejected. It is costing much more for her to go to Bath instead as she isnt entitled to the bursary she would have been. Private rent in Bath is hideously expensive and no London uplift.