Starting Year 13 (number 4!)

[Mindgone]

I just thought I'd get us started up again!

cricketballs- tell us more about first term at uni- such a useful post!!
We've decided to teach our DS how to clean loo as he hates bleach etc. can't bear to touch it!!!

cooking for us once a week though is going well. We are all still healthy!

As for washing - he'd have to put his clothes in laundry basket first!!!

Life skills - going to teach them!

I've finally managed to get DS to book a place on one of the York offer holder days. He couldn't be bothered to do it until now because he had to log in

Student finance question...

If you know that parental income is over the threshold and your child will receive the minimal maintenance loan, do you have to declare your income? Will not declaring it mean they will still receive the same amount?

We've never declared income and the DDs just got the min maintenance loan.

Ah ok thanks. I'm assuming we still need to fill in the forms though? I can't find an answer on the student finance gov.uk pages.

You still have to apply through student finance but you just tick that you won't be assessed on parental income.

Fab thanks webwiz.

What's the benefit to not declaring income? Is it just a hassle thing?

First term for DS he found interesting! He looked like death warmed up after freshers, but he joined in with lots whilst having to get up to go to introduction lectures. They very quickly got them working (his first assignment was issued within 2 weeks). In the main, 4 out of 6 flat mates found each other through fb, so already organised who was bringing what (shared kitchen) and within a week had organised themselves with food shopping, cooking etc.

But, as I already mentioned, those without life skills were the ones struggling with home sickness with one flat mate who really struggled so much DS wasn't sure if sge would return after the xmas break.

In terms of work load, it seems to vary, DS has assignments, mini tests etc fortnightly, he is aware of someone who is on the verge of being asked to leave as they are not completing the work.

DS is a competitive sportsman (think you can guess which sport!) and he joined the club during freshers week this has helped to widen his social life as squad members are from each year and a range of subjects

The one area he has struggled is budgeting! He has ended up withdrawing in cash his weekly allowance and not using his bank card at all!

If you know you are over the income limit for help then it just makes it simpler GentlyBenevolent

I feel like no-one's reading my posts

Do the calculator on student finance. If the parents combined income is above the threshold (using your tax return for 2013-2014 for a student starting uni in September 2015) then there is no point in the parents creating their own account on student finance to support their DC. The DC will tick the relevant box to say they will not be assessed on parental income. They will then just get the student loan

If on the other hand the DC can get a grant as well as a loan due to parental income, then the parents create their own account in support of the DC.

DD was sent an excellent booklet from sheffield on this.

It appears that for DC starting this September, if parental income is less than £62143, then parents should support the loan. For a grant the top amount is £42,620.

The loan is repayable, the grant is not.

Yes it is a hassle. I had to send off all my bank statements, copies of tax returns etc. Then my income dropped by more than 15% for the current year so I had to repeat the process so DD could get more. However she is over £3,000 better off (or rather I am as it covers a large part of her accommodation)

Very helpful bobs123 (especially the bit about changing circumstances).

Thanks all! Had a look at the calculator, we won't be supporting I don't think... We'd come up with a similar figure to you Circular, one friend has sent me her DS's spreadsheet ( he's doing economics ) of termly costs, which even breaks it down into 1/3 of yearly railcard etc, really, really helpful although we may have to up the shoe spend a little .
Thanks Bobs for the info :)
We wiz, hoping your DS has fun in York, it's near us and a really great city

Thanks bob??. Really useful.

Thanks bobs123 - very helpful.

Cathyandclaire Our figure was quite random, suspect on the high side. Expexting quite a few weekends coming home . Also doubt DD will be able to do much, if any, paid work in term time. Especially if she takes the CUKAS option. Shame, as she has a great p/t job now, that could possibly transfer.

One other question - if they get a non-means tested scholarship, does that affect the students loan amount awarded?

So many unknowns here, impossible to work out how much we will be paying out. Thinking also of the scenario if DD stays at home and commutes (which may be her UCAS insurance option). We continue to provide bed and board, and she lives off the reduced loan amount, which will be more than half taken up in travel costs.

circular non-means tested scholarship? Do you mean an award from the uni itself? Normally that's over and above the loan.

A lot of unis give extra amounts for bursaries/scholarships. eg a student at Southampton could get and extra £1500 a year if parents earning less than 25,000. Plus (for certain subjects) an extra £1,000 for a grade achieved above target grade.

They are all different (Nottingham Trent give nothing extra!) but these extra amounts are extra to the grant/loan. You need to check each uni web-site.

There are also Facebook pages set up for freshers in individual halls of residence and current students are very helpful....things like is there a waste paper basket, mirror (not normally) etc. I lurked there a lot . Your DC can meet students in the same halls before they go....bit down the line atm though!

I think it's on the higher side but when I was at Uni I was on a low amount, in London, doing medicine, so no long holidays to work full time.

My rent was higher than my income and despite a job it was impossible and my overdraft stacked up. It was so unachievable to balance the books that I kind of gave up IYSWIM and banks were happy to let medics run up debts.

Hoping a realistic figure will ensure she learns better budgeting skills than I did!

Cricketballs, thank you so much for your post was very helpful, especially applying to SF as soon as possible, my DD had to learn life skills since she was at a young age due to being my carer, it's been hard at times for her but I am so glad that she has learnt these skills cause I find these are vital skills for them to survive at uni, on the other hand she is not good at budgeting! Does anyone one know when can we apply to SF? Or is it already available to apply now? Thanks

I don't think you can apply yet. If you go on SF and click on "when to apply" 2015-2016 isn't showing up yet. I've looked through my records and have paperwork from SF dated mid April for the 1st year DD applied so she possibly applied in March??

Dd has had her fourth offer today. Southampton offered AAB but the good news is that they will accept ABB if she gets an A for her EPQ and, guess what, she already has the A so the pressure is off somewhat. Yay!!

It's her first choice too so now she doesn't really have an insurance unless she goes for Cardiff who have also offered ABB or Exeter who want AAB. Ah well, one more to come in yet and then she can start deciding.

Fantastic Fairenuff. What a nice position to be in! Who is she waiting to hear from?

(btw - student finance doesn't open for a few weeks. We did it in March last year & it was no hassle)
www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?p=53043825&highlight=student finance