Degree Placement year finances

[ThisPerkySloth2]

hello

if a degree has a placement year in UK - how does the student finances work? If its abroad (non UK that is) how does that work regards finances?

I've been working out what the potential costs will be to me of my two kids going to uni over the full period they will be in uni - there will be two years where they are both at uni. but i have no clue how works for a placement year in UK or abroad. if DD has chance of abroad she's very keen.

thanks

Fees (lower than normal) payable via loan, maintenance available as normal for year abroad, lower maintenance than normal if work placement - the idea being that placements should be paid (which isn’t always the reality unfortunately).

@ThisPerkySloth2 Be careful about who finds the placements. In most universities dc apply after finding their own placements. Lots of applications needed too as firms receive lots of applicants. Universities do not have banks of paid placements waiting for dc. A few notable exceptions, but its close to misrepresentation in my view. Always ask how dc get placements, how many (%) are successful, how many give up and how many do the students apply for and how many are via family connections/friends.

I would add to the above that we will be rejoining Erasmus with its very favourable terms for study in the EU, but I am not sure when. Also, many (but not all) universities offer very steep discounts on tuition fees during worldwide (non EU) study abroad, to help offset the costs. In several countries health insurance is a big one.

Also in some countries, particularly North America, it is typical for students to work a few hours a week and visa regulations permit this of Study Abroad students.

My DD did a placement year last year. Her uni doesn't offer with placement degrees but you can intermit to do a placement (still count as a student so can stay in student accomodation/ don't pay council tax/ can access library etc) and no fees. She still puts that she did a placement on her CV just not in degree title. Placement paid about £24k pa and ran Sep to August. Most of her fellow placement students paid 20% fees but one or two paid higher so worth checking. Good thing about intermitting was no requirement to do write ups or presentations about placement so can concentrate on the job itself (DDs boss liked it as no paper work for her).

@titchy thanks so I getting from this if I budget for a normal year (i.e. at their home uni) should be generally ok in either case. but if they are on work placement and don't get paid will need more.

Having posted i am realising i hadn't appreciated the difference between a year abroad studying Vs a work placement - two different things.

one DC Uni course likely to have the year abroad studying and other DC a work placement but wants to complete studies rather than placement (thats another post to come re pros and cons).

thanks

@TizerorFizz thanks I didn't realise it was so complicated. thank you for the pointers to watch out for. I am now understanding too there is a difference - year abroad and a work placement.

i think i will budget as if they are spending each year in home Uni and have a contingency.

@poetryandwine thank you, so for budgeting purposes I will plan as if studying at their UK uni each year with a contingency pot. This is all new to me regards study abroad / work placements. I'll look up Erasmus - no clue at present. Thanks for pointers.

My DD will be doing a placement year. She has to pay £1,250 in tuition fees for the year. Lives at home, so doesn't take maintenance loan anyway.

@PearlStork I was just thinking about the budgeting but there seems a lot more to think about, get to grips with. my DD is keen to do a degree with a year of study abroad - she has an offer for her preferred course which includes a year abroad.

My DS who wants to do Engineering (GCSEs at present, I'm just trying to get up to speed in preparation) after quick conversation DS seems inclined to get all the education done in one go especially if a Masters. need to do a separate post on Engineering degrees and pros and cons of placement years Vs no placement year for career prospects!!!!

but hadn't known about the intermitting approach. thanks for the pointers.

If its a year abroad then my DDs uni is 15% fees if compulsory or non-complusory but under Turing but up to 50% if not Turing and not compulsory. No fees payment to year abroad uni if under home uni exchange scheme. If not compulsory check how degree class is determined. In my DDs subject you just need to pass the year abroad but degree class is solely on final year at home uni. Puts a bit of pressure on the final year (her uni average all modules so less able to mitigate a low mark if just 4 modules and a diss count).

@PearlStork makes an important point that may be known to the OP but not to everyone: when doing non EU Study Abroad, all tuition fees are paid (usually at a steep discount) to the home university as usual. There are no extra tuition fees. Residential costs and health insurance are usually paid locally.

I never worked directly with students going to the EU and my focus was academic, so my logistical knowledge is somewhat limited.

@ThisPerkySloth2. For Engineering a 4 year MEng is best in many ways. A year in industry will be competitive and possibly lead to a job but is it the job dc actually wants? Or is it the 20th application and the least favourite placement year? BEng might well be 4 years with placement year too but BEng can only lead to Incorporated Engineer without the Masters. So that can limit career possibilities. MEng is the direct route to being a Chartered Engineer.

Work placements and study abroad are a minefield. It looks very attractive on paper and to 17 year olds applying to university but the extent to which obtaining a good work placement or study abroad option is supported by the student's university varies wildly. If at all possible it is best to talk to current students on the desired course of study about the realities.

@TizerorFizz thanks that's helpful some good points re pros and cons as well as leaving his options open. at present I don't think DS is passionate but rather he feels may be a good fit regards subjects he likes. my gut was inkling towards Masters 4 years then get into work place asap. Leaving full qualified would be ideal!

@Ceramiq hello yes it does sound complicated, finding that from the responses I've had. DD wants to do Politics and International Relations - I'm thinking study abroad would be very useful to that but I am realising i know very little and yes sounds very attractive to DD.

Although my sister who lives abroad is already keen for DD to pick where she lives and already planning what they could do together weekends!!!!

once A level exams over will discuss with DD to find out more. and do a little research myself in meantime.

@ThisPerkySloth2 Study abroad can be well supported by unis and many have ties with suitable universities. However places can be competitive and some don’t get to go. English speaking ones in particular are competitive. Working abroad for a year is always down to dc but usually it’s MFL students, for obvious reasons.

Also anyone with a MEng doesn’t have to be an engineer. Loads of jobs open to people who are numerate.

I agree talking to current students is a great idea. This can be done at Open Days/Offer Holder Days and also online at the forum The Student Room, where possibly a broader spectrum of candid opinions may be obtained.

Almost everyone I recommended without reservation was selected for a Worldwide Placement. This simply meant that students were on a 2.1 when applying (during Sem1 of Y2 for Y3 placement) and maintained this class throughout Y2 with no red flags.

(I think I withdrew perhaps two students for Y2 performance snd the SA central team withdrew a third whom I classed as borderline)

However the most competitive destinations are very competitive indeed. Our university makes the placements with the exception

Apologies

of U California. That has its own very early deadline. Applications are forwarded from our uni to UC who pick the few lucky ones. Then, sometime later, these students are allocated to their campuses. Berkeley, UCLA and UCSD are very hard fought! It isn’t fair, but if you don’t like their terms they will simply work with other partners

I am sure American destinations will be less attractive for the near future and this may even make UC a more viable destination.

@TizerorFizz so I think If DD is really keen then she will have to ensure she works to a level that makes her one of the lucky ones - might incentivise her! unfortunately she didn't take a language at GCSE or A level but hopes to learn another language whilst at uni - not as a qualification though. So would have to be an English speaking one - which works regards her Aunt's plans 😁

MEng - Even better - I think that will work out well for DS to have various options.

Everything feels so much harder and competitive for young people now.

@poetryandwine very much appreciating all this information/advise and insight on process from someone actually involved!

it will be good for DD to appreciate she will have to demonstrate her capabilities in order to get to study abroad as I'm not sure how deeply she has looked it. and that its not a given.

thanks

Remember to factor in additional costs. DD is going to France this year and we've had to pay the host University to access their accommodation services (£150), over £400 for the pleasure of a company to guarantee her accommodation because we are not French nationals despite our income level, health insurance, flights and higher accommodation costs. Plus I think the Visa (which we haven't got to yet) is around £150. Her friend is going to Spain and has had to pay for a GP letter stating she is healthy, notarisation of that, notarised proof of income of her parents, £400-ish for her Visa.

Edited for typos

It is possible to study a MFL at university and do a year at a partner university using that MFL, but dc would need to be super confident. It’s far from easy.