Uni fees and expenses

[Bugsy73]

My daughter is going into yr 13 in September so is currently looking at uni's and planning the next stage. She would like to do a degree in primary education and currently wants to leave our home town to do so.
Clearly this is going to cost us 😂
How do people manage? The fees are covered by a student loan? How about accommodation and general living expenses? Do we just need to cut back on our outgoings? Take a loan out ourselves? We have a small amount of savings but don't think it will go too far.
My DH in particular has gone into a bit of a tailspin about it today.
Any advice/tips very welcome!

Dd gets the minimum which we top up to the maximum amount.
She’s at a northern uni. She worked last summer and saved and will do the same this summer. She’s knows how much she has to spend each week and has managed to budget ok.
As previous poster said it also depends on where they go. Dd avoided London as accommodation costs were so steep. Her accommodation for next year is £130 per week.

Agree with Titchy.
We are on our 3rd to go through University.
It doesn't actually cost us the full £5k that in theory we "ought" to give them.

There are so many factors you can look at to keep the costs lowers, and then so many options you can look at to find the money you do need.

Loads an loads and loads of threads asking the same question(s) if you want to search this board, or, as has already been suggested, join WIWIKAU on Facebook or look for their website and the same thing is discussed very often if you do a quick search once they have let you into the group.

Ds is looking at Exeter and the accommodation there is almost £6500 on its own.

Of course there are cheaper places to study

There campus accommodation for less than £5k - no need to pay £6,500 at all

In fact there's budget accommodation for less than £4k!

And the cheaper rooms have less demand btw.

My child gets the max loan, and she manages on it. She does budget, and doesn't live in London, or in hugely expensive accommodation.

Some students pick a uni based on how expensive the accommodation is

I’m giving an example. Yes there are cheaper blocks but there are also much more expensive halls too. Anyway as I have said it depends on where you pick to study, what type of room, catered or uncatered etc. But my point was to show that if you only get the minimum maintenance grant that might not even cover accommodation costs.

Loans/grants and part time jobs, i had 2 jobs at uni to earn my living money and rent, as my fees were covered by loans/grants. I didn't get any money from my family, and couldn't imagine expecting them to pay £8k a year to go out drinking and living the student lifestyle. I saved up from part time job between 16-18 before moving so i had a buffer

And my point was to show that at the vast vast majority of universities the minimum loan DOES cover rent

Has she got a job? My dd works in a fish and chip shop every Saturday.

What I also find ridiculous is that SF take into parental income at all! I know a lot of children get the Minimum loan but aren't supported by their parents at all, makes it near impossible to attend university.

Also primary ed is a great course! (It's the one I'm doing for my teacher training!)

We've paid their rent which has been less than 5K pa for each of the elder 3. Dd3 goes in the autumn and hers will probably be nearer 7K (more expensive area) but fortunately she is the only one at university from now on.
Obviously if they go for catered and you pay for that it will be more!

OneFrenchEgg, we are in a similar situation. DH is a fairly high earner but the money goes nowhere! She does have a job but its seasonal/school holidays. Opening a savings account for her would be a good idea and she can contribute towards it.
Poppyflower, whereabouts are you doing your degree? DD has her heart set on Newcastle/Northumbria.
I've joined the Facebook group. Thanks for the tip!

In Scotland so fees are paid

our 3 all went away from home which we were happy to support

Eldest has finished
give younger 2 £1100 each a month to cover rent and spending money

Some don't have much of a choice about accommodation cost. Ours costs £4509-£11,000. You can state your preferences but they are more or less randomly allocated and you could end up with shockingly high accommodation costs.

Exactly Teebee. Many universities don't have nearly enough accommodation at the moment. It isn't simply a case of saying you want a particular block and getting it.

Ds gets minimum loan and we pay his rent. How much is dependent on where the uni is an how much accommodation is. Ds's rent has been eye watering and we've been paying approx£140 plus bills a week ( D's pays the bills) For his final year it will be £175 a week including bills but excluding laundry, this is considered pretty cheap where he is. Ds works yon the holidays to contribute. I advise your dd to save as much as she can before going for extras,all birthday and Christmas money plus get a job if she can.

The whole thing is unbelievably expensive. We half joked about getting a divorce so ds could claim the whole loan.

Anyway the broad consensus seems to be that its perfectly manageable on £10k a year for living and so if you think you'll get the minimum loan you/DC need to find circa £5500 per year.

Unless you are well off and can afford the top up then the student needs to work all holidays plus whilst at university.Nothing wrong with that and gives them pride in supporting themselves.One family member is just starting his masters.He has earned money to pay for his shared house and living costs.Room only is £120 a week but walks everywhere,frugal cooking and gets a free meal at work which helps.He has never asked for money in the last 3 years and not gone without.

It is the more expensive accommodation that has highest demand though. Do bear that in mind.

She can take out a maintenance loan (rate will depend on family income). The minimum plus a part time job should cover everything.

There are plenty of universities in locations where that would be more than enough but not all. One of mine is at a London university and the university's recommended budget is £17k per year, based on a student survey of actual costs. The average rent paid by their students for a room in a shared house was £200 per week (52 weeks).

it is only income you pay tax on that counts (so no benefits) and there is a small allowance for other dependent children I think it’s £1130 taken off income per child. I had a salary sacrifice set up for childcare vouchers and the loan was based on my income after the salary sacrifice was taken into account - so on my take home pay. It’s also the income after pension contributions are taken off (but before tax and NI) It should be the amount on your p60 less dependent deductions.

That’s not been our experience tbh. Ds was allocated a room but could put in for a swap and very quickly got his top choice. Bear in mind as @titchy says, it’s the en suite ££££ rooms that are popular; cheaper ones are more often available. Dd got her place through clearing and had to accept what accom they had, and it was a £120pw room with washbasin.