DH is limiting Y12 DC to universities in the north due to ££££

[BatteredHonda]

DC is in Y12 and wants to apply to KCL, Bristol and Exeter - alongside other unis. DC will qualify for minimum maintenance loan and we are therefore expected to top up/pay the accommodation. We struggle to make ends meet as it is so DH has said DC canNOT apply to southern unis - let alone London ones. He is recommending Leicester, Newcastle, Swansea, Belfast etc instead. DC is furious but I do get where DH coming from. What are your thoughts?

Thanks for the update @boys3 . That's truly shocking.

I think think there are some aspects of the student loan scheme that are not intuitive (or fair) and catch even fairly well informed people by surprise. A relative of mine got a shock when her partner moved in with her after he became ill and lost his job. Until then she had been supporting her kids at University and he had been supporting his, but once he moved in they became a household for student finance purposes and it was then her (fairly high) salary that was used as the basis for calculations for all the students. * *So she was then effectively supporting herself and 5 other people whilst both non resident parents and their new partners got off scot free. They managed, and all the students got jobs both at University and in the holidays but it seems fundamentally unfair to me, and most people who know them have said they wouldn't have realised that this kind of thing happens.
One of my ex colleagues is currently mid divorce proceedings and her STBXH in "encouraging" their 6th former DC to live full time with Mum so that she carries the entire burden of student support. I think it stinks. Obviously the government's expectation is that parents contribute - that's why the maintenance loan is means tested - so why does that expectation fall only on the resident parent (+ their new partner if they have one)?
I think the system needs an overhaul.

Clearly you know different people to me - whilst some people are very clued up, an awful lot of people know there are loans, but don't realise they don't cover the full amount, or only start thinking about this when their child is in Year 11/12 and therefore have minimal time to save

Same here. I don't know many average families who are checking out university costs before Year 11. The finance presentations took place in the 1st term of Year 12 at Dds college so most of those parents wouldn't think about it until then. You know more if you've friends and relatives with older DC.

To save and prepare adequately you need to know years in advance. Like I said, people know we've gone to a loan system, there are no grants. If DC have to pay it back, why would one make the assumption that it's based on parental income and different young people get different amounts? That's just not where most people's heads are.

I was aware we'd be paying most of DD's living expenses at uni as she has a cousin 3 years ahead of her, but didn't know most accommodation costs would be above the minimum loan amount.

Apparently the income threshold of £25000 for getting the full loan hasn't risen since 2008. So without loan and threshold increases following any set pattern, future costs for each family is very difficult to predict.

Don’t know why I know people who did then.

I don’t see why people are caught out with the term household income either. Also if you are a single mum on benefits your DC at university will get more. What system can sensibly look at an ex husband and know he’s a shit?! It’s impossible. Why have people suddenly noticed they have to pay? After decades of paying?

I do accept the university housing costs have escalated. However the poorest students can get bursaries of several £thousand. Didn’t the government set up
savings accounts too? There’s always been a group with higher outgoings who struggle. However I don’t know a single DC who hasn’t gone away to university (because we don’t have one worth going to nearby.) Everyone goes if they can. Certainly some people do not replace cars or cut down on holidays etc but they do that willingly. Dc work in the holidays. From the numbers still going to university, the money is found.