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Husband unwilling to support son financially through university

228 replies

Lozza70 · 22/08/2026 15:43

Sorry quite long so good if you get through!

DS1 is quite academic and is about to enter Y13. He did well in GCSE’s with seven 9’s, three 7’s, distinction in further maths and an A in HPQ. He wants to persue vet med and is currently predicted A*.

The issue I have is that DH has stated he does not want to support him in university. He would get minimum maintenance loan so we would need to top up and if he is successful in going into vet med I know there would be little time for a part time job, though I know it is possible. I could support in topping up though I have recently been made redundant so would need to dip into savings.

Neither DH or I went to university and started work at 18 with both of us working our way up to senior positions. I think this is one of the things tainting my husbands view on this matter. Plus the decision from DS1 to get into vet med when up to last year he always talked of another career which he could access from 18 with an apprenticeship approach. DH thinks our son is not really committed and this is just a fad but he has done loads of work experience and is still sure this is what he wants to do. I have asked if he did another path at uni would he support but he is of the same view. Generally DH is not ‘tight’ with money spent on the family so this has come as a surprise.

I suppose I’m disappointed as I think we
should be proud DS1 has the ability to access uni and we should support that. Has anyone had a similar experience and how did it work out?

OP posts:
BlackeyedSusan · 31/08/2026 23:32

Similar experience, though thank God before tuition fees. I was only supported if I did a course chosen by dad. Did really shit and didn't even qualify. A waste of four years really. I still wish I could have done my chosen course.

HPFA · 02/09/2026 06:40

CrumpleDink · 24/08/2026 08:29

I saw an ad for bursaries for male vet students in a vet training hospital
admittedly two years ago. Wouldn’t know if it was running this year without googling but might be worth a look.

also, your husbands ‘approved’ route for gaining a degree might also be just as difficult to get keep and succeed at, that I think he’s being a bit harsh deciding which subject and route his son should study. We tried all the apprenticeship routes and got to second or third rounds of interviews on many. Didn’t get to the offer stage though. Had we not had all routes to play for, Mladdo wouldn’t have had a place to go come September.

I'm amazed at how many people say "just get an apprenticeship" as if they were falling off trees.

Good ones are extremely competitive.

RampantIvy · 02/09/2026 10:15

HPFA · 02/09/2026 06:40

I'm amazed at how many people say "just get an apprenticeship" as if they were falling off trees.

Good ones are extremely competitive.

I agree. They are far more competitive than university places.

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