DS in Y13, should we doing anything now re Uni finance?

[MonkeyTennis34]

That’s it really.
He’s about to sit his A levels, has his offers but obviously doesn’t know where he’s going yet.

Yes, me and DH are tagging along! Will look out for this, thanks.

DD was the same, and ended up applying in July, and fortunately her funding did arrive in time but we were warned it might not and we might have to fund her first term up front before the monies arrived...(would still be the same amount of loans just delayed in receipt)

If your household income exceeds 60k, they won't need your income. DS wil just select he requires the minimum loan amount. DD sorted hers ages ago, took her no time at all. She has firmed her choice and reserved accommodation also, so check he has done this so you don't end up having to sub him a grand a month to cover it!

If your income is over the maximum threshold for means testing it takes very little time, 30 minutes maybe but if you are applying for the means tested part it takes a lot longer, the dc completes a section then parent(s) complete a section. Remember the thresholds are on household income not parental income if parents have split

Oh, glad to have come across this thread. DD hasn’t said anything about it. Is it a process she can start before receiving all offers or only once she’s selected a firm and an insurance choice. She’s still waiting for one uni to offer/reject.

That should have read reserved accommodation before all that is left is the most expensive. At DD's uni. £220 a week is middle of the road, the most expensive is almost £400 so don't leave it too late!!

Not all universities operate first come, first served for accommodation. But agree, it's worth checking what the chosen uni does.

This is incredibly helpful, thank you.

How does it work if you are self employed. DH and I both are, and so barely know this year's income yet (the accountant works out deductions).

It’s based on the previous full tax year, not the current year. Though if you expect your taxable income to be significantly different you can ask them to reassess.

Yes, but it's only just April and so I will have to work like a dog to get the accounts ready now - I think we are just on the borderline of £60k as well in terms of joint income so would have to be accurate.

It is based on the income that you filed January just gone (23-24 tax year)

Ah, OK that helps a lot. Thank you.

Are you going to any Offer Holder Days at his First and Insurance choices? The universities generally have finance talks especially for parents and guardians.

We've done one which was not particularly useful and the other one hasn't done an offer holders day yet. But I think I have everything I need now.

@NeuroSpicyMumof3
Thanks. Yes, our household is exceeds that amount. Does that mean we get very little maintenance loan?

If your household income is above £62,377 then your son will qualify for the minimum Maintenance Loan, which in 2025/26 is £4,915. The government assumes that parents will top this up (typically students need around £10k per year but the cost of accommodation is the 'biggie' for calculating how much a student needs).

International/EU students are allowed to work up to 20 hours per week and I regularly see them earning around £700pcm so, if the course is not too intense, your son may be able to earn enough to help top up the loan if you can't stretch to about £5k a year. Everything you can send really makes a difference.

Just to add: the info in my post above assumes your son is moving out of the parental home during (university) term time and that he is not at a London Uni. He would qualify for less if he stays at home (and the household income threshold is slightly lower) and he would qualify for slightly more if he moves out and goes to a London uni (and the household income threshold is slightly higher). I can get you these figures if you need them.

@Motherknowsrestits not for you to apply. Your child must do it as it’s their debt. If you earn below the threshold for means tested maintenance then they can put your email addresses in for you to fill out your info (generally a few questions plus your tax number as they will look at your 23-24 tax return for verification).
Anyone who thinks their child should get more than minimum do not panic if they get a letter with the minimum. For some unfathomable reason SFE may initially issue a letter with the minimum amount then send another with the higher amount (if entitled).

I’ve looked at the SFE student timeline and it doesn’t say when the deadline actually is, although the AI blurb says it’s “typically 31 May” - is it really 15 May?

Fortunately we’d planned to sit down this weekend to look at it so I’ll make sure we (ie DC) actually applies before the start of term.

Thanks for the thread OP.

He does his part of the application and then if he’s applied for the maximum loan, you and any partner of yours that your ds lives with will be contacted separately using the information that your ds puts in the application.

If he has applied for the minimum loan then you won’t be contacted because everyone is entitled to that regardless of household income.

The deadline is 9 months after the start of the course and for courses that start in the autumn, that means from 1st September. So it's the end of May not the middle of May.

There is a separate 'unofficial' deadline which is along the lines of: if you're starting new and you'd like your funding ready for the start of the course, you should apply by the end of May for courses starting the following autumn, e.g. May 25 for Sep 25. And if you're continuing, apply by the end of June.

Thank you @HEstufinadviser - but for new students, why would the deadline be 9 months after the start of their course? Why would a university accept them in September 2025 when the tuition fees funding won’t be applied for until May 2026?

@HEstufinadviser
Thanks for sharing that figure (£4915). I’ve no idea how that translates re accommodation, food, books.
My reticent son disclosed yesterday that is firm is Leeds and insurance is Liverpool.
Are these cities where accommodation is less expensive?
I went to Newcastle where I remember one of my shared houses cost me £14 a week….it was 1989!

My dd in in Newcastle. Her halls (ensuite) were £4500 and her room this year is £106 a week so £5500ish. My second dd is going to a different university next year and her halls are double the price.

The price of halls will be on the university websites.

Check out the “What I wish I knew about university” (wiwikau) Facebook page, it is really useful, loads of good advice. There’s a “Parents of Northumbria university students” page too so there may be something similar in the universities your DC is looking at.

Accommodation costs vary depending on where you are so look into those. To give you an idea my DS is in Newcastle and chose the cheapest student halls (shared bathrooms) and is paying £118 a week (5k). You’re looking at £6500 for the cheapest en-suite halls up to £8500 for the Newcastle area. These are “reasonable” accommodation costs for a university. Other universities are more expensive.