Universities 2012 on-wards

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My daughter is in the process of registering for intake at Uni next year. We’ve been to see a campus at Cambridge last weekend and have to say it’s all very impressive. She’s completed the UCAS on-line registration this week and has selected her five preferences.

However, as you know only to well, the uni costs are trebled that of this years intake. I’ve calculated that she’ll come out of the end of the three years with the minimum of £42K debt plus other living costs, travel, interest etc. I had saved a little towards this but nowhere near the kind of costs are they mentioning. All of a sudden reality bites.

Although I’m more than happy subsidise some of her living expenses I have to say that the thought of my daughter having such a high debt scares the pants off me. I feel kind of guilty that this should be my burden but my wife has made it perfectly clear that this is her choice.

The problem with the government now cutting the subsidised tuition fees leave me a little sceptical about the whole thing.

Firstly, is there really any career that’s warrants a £40k plus debt for a very small chance that of employment in the chosen field?

Secondly, does the qualification really give her any further opportunities that her college BTeC wouldn’t or where other people have gained necessary and essential job training?

Lastly, is it going to be that students actually won’t bother applying? Early indications that UCAS applications are already down by this time last year.

Students would normally see the “uni years” as a first opportunity to leave home and lead an independent life style away from their parents.. but is this really worth the cost? Many students may seek commutable universities as living in just won’t be an option.

It appears to me that University will really be one to those that are on either side of the income spectrum. Those in the middle and the majority hit the hardest.

In my daughter eyes, she sees that although she’ll have the large debt, she can also pay the small repayments when she reaches a salary of 22k (thereabouts) until the debt is forfeited after 30 years. That’s all very well, but I’d expect someone at university to have high prospects and a highly paid job at the end otherwise what’s the point.

Students are now facing much tougher choices if in fact some have any. I was wondering if there were any parents in the same position, or any perspective students that are up against the same conundrum.

Thanks for reading
 
Lastly, is it going to be that students actually won’t bother applying? Early indications that UCAS applications are already down by this time last year.

That will probably be due to the spike in applications to avoid the increase in fees.

In short though, think of it as more of a capped graduate tax than a debt. You cannot default on it, it has no impact on your credit score and you only pay it back if your wages reach the threshold and even then only at a set rate (9% of earnings over the threshold). In cold hard figures it sounds like a lot of money but over her lifetime, if she does a decent degree, it should be worth it.
 
Worst "My Daughter is going to Cambridge Uni" thread ever :p.

As for the UCAS applications a lot of people in my year at school still haven't sent off their applications yet but very much intend to in the near future so I wouldn't rely too much on those 'eraly indicators' yet.
 
Whats she plan on studying?

Im currently doing computer science and mainly for the reason that any job that im intersted in over say the 20K mark wants a degree in computer science or similar,

Then again if i was doing it starting next year, id be certainly thinking about it twice, 40k to do 3 years training IS a lot,

1. i think in the current job market, yes.

2. Definately yes, make sure she gets some forms of work experience throughout her degree

3. Yes i know a few people who already searching for full time jobs as they dont see 9k a year a reasonable amount to sit and listen to someone talk at you for 6 hours a week
 
That will probably be due to the spike in applications to avoid the increase in fees.

In short though, think of it as more of a capped graduate tax than a debt. You cannot default on it, it has no impact on your credit score and you only pay it back if your wages reach the threshold and even then only at a set rate (9% of earnings over the threshold). In cold hard figures it sounds like a lot of money but over her lifetime, if she does a decent degree, it should be worth it.

The problem is the compounding interest charges. Although the loans/debt aren't considered in risk assessment.. it's still a heavy burden to carry. One for for sure I'd feel uncomfortable with.

Whats she plan on studying?

Im currently doing computer science and mainly for the reason that any job that im intersted in over say the 20K mark wants a degree in computer science or similar,

Then again if i was doing it starting next year, id be certainly thinking about it twice, 40k to do 3 years training IS a lot,

1. i think in the current job market, yes.

2. Definately yes, make sure she gets some forms of work experience throughout her degree

3. Yes i know a few people who already searching for full time jobs as they dont see 9k a year a reasonable amount to sit and listen to someone talk at you for 6 hours a week

Would you not think employees would look at candidates with some experience, rather than those with full academic achievements. My point here is that surely a apprenticeship would be far more beneficial than a costly degree which could be useless against those with some experience.
 
It's not really debt in a typical sense though. She'll never have bailiffs knocking on her door asking for money and she will only pay back the loan if she earns over the threshold.

What does she want to study and where btw? That makes a big difference as to whether it's worth it or not.
 
I know what you mean. I'm finishing my degree this year, just as my sister starts. Difference is that she'll be paying around the same in her first year as I did for my entire degree.

Tough times for some!
 
The problem is the compounding interest charges. Although the loans/debt aren't considered in risk assessment.. it's still a heavy burden to carry. One for for sure I'd feel uncomfortable with.

Indeed as a headline figure it does seem like a lot of money but it is a zero risk loan and a good degree from Cambridge (if she ends up there) should be more than worth it. My daughter is still far too young for us to be worrying about this yet, but when the time comes I would not hesitate to recommend to her to do a decent degree.
 
Indeed as a headline figure it does seem like a lot of money but it is a zero risk loan and a good degree from Cambridge (if she ends up there) should be more than worth it. My daughter is still far too young for us to be worrying about this yet, but when the time comes I would not hesitate to recommend to her to do a decent degree.

Would you feel the same burden/worry as a parent?

It's not really debt in a typical sense though. She'll never have bailiffs knocking on her door asking for money and she will only pay back the loan if she earns over the threshold.

What does she want to study and where btw? That makes a big difference as to whether it's worth it or not.

Extended public services or criminology.
 
My daughter is in the process of registering for intake at Uni next year. We’ve been to see a campus at Cambridge last weekend and have to say it’s all very impressive. She’s completed the UCAS on-line registration this week and has selected her five preferences.
Unfortunately, she's a little late (if she was planning to apply). The deadline for applications was Oct. 15th.
 
Convince a uni to let her study a Masters. They only cost about 5k in total for tuition.

Admittedly I doubt you'd be able to convince Cambridge to let through an undergrad straight onto a Masters. But presumably she already has stunning A levels to even be considering Cambridge. So go for a slightly lesser uni and just sell yourself to get onto a Masters. It will be one hell of a shock to the system though. A levels are just a doss about. A Masters = almost like hard work.
 
What is she thinking of studying?

Cambridge obviously distorts things a bit, since it has such a high reputation, but it's usually the case that humanities and languages degrees are unlikely to be worth the cost in purely economic terms. However, university education should mean a lot, lot more than simply a boost in income.

I think that anyone who can go to university should still do so despite the moronic policies of the current government.
 
I wouldn't worry about it too much as the debt is very controllable and is managed on a basis of post-graduation earnings. Cambridge also has some of the best scholarship schemes of any university here - I'm sure your daughter will be able to get some bursaries or scholarships to put more cash in the pot. A degree from Cambridge is a very worthwhile investment, and I'd imagine that her future will be secure if she gets in and does well :)

Admittedly I doubt you'd be able to convince Cambridge to let through an undergrad straight onto a Masters. But presumably she already has stunning A levels to even be considering Cambridge. So go for a slightly lesser uni and just sell yourself to get onto a Masters. It will be one hell of a shock to the system though. A levels are just a doss about. A Masters = almost like hard work.

Not quite sure what you mean - straight to postgrad studies? Most of the postgrad students here (MPhil - I don't think Cam offers that many MSc courses; MA is a conferred degree here) come straight from undergrad with a 2:1 / first (preferred). The odd course asks for undergrad plus experience, but I don't think you'd get onto any masters course without an undergrad degree? (even at the lower-ranked universities)
 
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I'm doing 4 years currently

I get a 4k maintenance loan and a 3k tuition fee loan.

Which will give me 28k debt at the end.

Pretty scary at that.

If I was doing 4k maintenance and a 9k tuition fee loan (worst case scenario)

I'd have 52k debt, scary business.
 
Would you not think employees would look at candidates with some experience, rather than those with full academic achievements. My point here is that surely a apprenticeship would be far more beneficial than a costly degree which could be useless against those with some experience.

Well you'd think but again i'm currently applying for industrial placement years and i have a lot of previous work experience, had jobs since i was 16, i only obtained a 2:2 in my first year and ive been declined from 14 places so far,

whereas a girl in my tutorial who got a first in year 1, has never had a job in her life and gets funded to no end by mummy is on her 2nd or 3rd interview for over 5 companys
 
Finished my degree last year and came out with just under £25k worth of debt. It doesnt bother me at all and I rarly think about it.

I would recommend anyone who does a degree try for a sandwich course, as my current employer stated, the thing which set me apart was the years experience

Getting a degree is good, having the experience to back it up is even better :)

I would hate to think anyone whos going to Uni isnt aiming higher than the 15k payback
 
I'm doing 4 years currently

I get a 4k maintenance loan and a 3k tuition fee loan.

Which will give me 28k debt at the end.

Pretty scary at that.

If I was doing 4k maintenance and a 9k tuition fee loan (worst case scenario)

I'd have 52k debt, scary business.

I think that pretty much self evident that that kind of loan is never paid off.
 
If I were going to uni now I would seriously consider doing it at one of those English speaking Dutch unis I have read about for £2k, in addition to being a LOT cheaper I believe that would look better on a CV than the most UK unis.

The loan scares the pants off me, but I am very averse to debt (I thought £1k a year was a rip off back in the day and had a part time job to cover it!). I am under the impression the interest is something like RPI +3% (so 8% at the mo) and would require the student to earn something like £38/39K just to start paying off the actual debt (anything less just digs into the interest).

Additionally I can see the minimum amount being subject to fiscal drag and never raised, so while £21k might not seem that bad now, 10 years down the line it will probably be minimum wage.

I am also under the impression that this debt carries charges for being paid off early AND will remain even after a bankruptcy - a bad deal if you ask me.
 
I'm biased as I never went to Uni, didn't even finish my A-levels - but hey, I turned out OK.

There's other ways to get a job without going to Uni.

What field does she want to get into? Does she actually want to do this (lots of students change their mind). It'd certainly make sure that any daughter or son of mine ensured that they wanted to do this course / job before saying yes, go for it and helping them out.

it's going to be tough for students, but I think it will stop numbers attending who just go for the social life and go for the subject they're interested in.
 
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