Non-repayable grants

Gackt · 17 Jan 2009 at 20:52

Of course the taxpayers pay it, where else would it come from?

I think it's an awesome thing, you're giving people without a decent financial background the ability to better themselves and contribute better to society. I'd say that's worth every penny of my taxes. I'd rather a poor person get decent education and do a meaningul job, then be stuck in a grunt-job because they couldn't afford the extortionate fees to go to University and maintain themselves while they were there.

Psypher5 · 17 Jan 2009 at 21:04

Id be SCREWED without the grant etc.

You want me to go take a normal loan?

Dr.EM · 17 Jan 2009 at 21:06

I am at uni and will recieve a grant. Even though I'm sure Uni won't benefit me and was a bad choice I know that I already paid that grant from working full time for 2 years before going.

It's just the same as school as someone pointed out, and lots of people will have gone there and got nothing out of it! I'll have to pay tax for schooling of kids none of which will be my own

. I'm sure the system works out rather well all told.

BigglesPiP · 17 Jan 2009 at 21:08

The grant is tiny, at most, you get £1,000.

I tend to get about £100. I get my fees paid (maybe not this year), and I take out the maximum loan of almost £4,000 (mostly not supplied by the government).

Most people still need to get a job to get through, and have to live like a student, even though they are going to be the ones paying silly money in income tax later.

Taxes do pay it, but then we pay more tax than you, so quit whining.

Jimmeh · 17 Jan 2009 at 21:23

James07 said:
Most people will never have to pay around 500-600 a month in taxes

Where did Craig mention 500-600 a month? Are you claiming this is roughly what you pay per month? On a £200 per week wage?

I fail to see where your gripe lies beyond jealousy; and the people who ought to be ****** off are those who have recently left University and miss out on such advantages.

RDM · 17 Jan 2009 at 21:34

As the grant is so small anyway, why not just add it on to the loan?

Buffman · 17 Jan 2009 at 21:38

RDM said:
As the grant is so small anyway, why not just add it on to the loan?

because a couple of grand is better than nothing, especially when you've got very little money..?

RDM · 17 Jan 2009 at 21:41

The Craig said:
because a couple of grand is better than nothing, especially when you've got very little money..?

But you are going to have to get a large loan anyway and it is a loan with very good repayment terms. So why bother with the grant at all? If you are going on to get a well paid job anyway the extra couple of thousand won't make a huge amount of difference. If you aren't, then should the taxpayer really be funding it anyway?

etom · 17 Jan 2009 at 21:42

i get like a 100quid grant, friend gets full grant and lives in some posh accomadation because of it gg really "fair" should just be loan full stop lol or same grant for everyone. As someone said not everyone parents who earn above certain thresholds are rich...

Buffman · 17 Jan 2009 at 21:49

RDM said:
But you are going to have to get a large loan anyway and it is a loan with very good repayment terms. So why bother with the grant at all? If you are going on to get a well paid job anyway the extra couple of thousand won't make a huge amount of difference. If you aren't, then should the taxpayer really be funding it anyway?

Well it helps if people end up not finishing the course and having to pay back a large loan on a non-graduate job, also a lot of graduate jobs dont start on loads of money but work up the way in salary (although I also realise the loans have reasonable terms to allow for this).

and I'm not gonna bother feeding the troll now.

RDM · 17 Jan 2009 at 21:52

The Craig said:
Well it helps if people end up not finishing the course and having to pay back a large loan on a non-graduate job, also a lot of graduate jobs dont start on loads of money but work up the way in salary (although I also realise the loans have reasonable terms to allow for this).

Should we be paying for people not to finish university? And as the loan terms scale with pay if they are on a low income job it won't make a bit of difference.

Lagmeister · 17 Jan 2009 at 21:53

MattandJet said:
It must be such a shame you having well off parents

It would be if they actually were well off, would have been even more of a shame if they actually paid for any of my tuition rather than it comming out of loans

neoboy · 17 Jan 2009 at 21:58

Can't see what the fuss is all about, it's a well known fact that grants are funded by pixie dust and we have plenty of it still :confused:

Zarf · 17 Jan 2009 at 22:22

So you'd rather the Govt. gave people larger loans and then made them more in debt when they finished uni so they have next to no net income when they get a job and have a loan stuck on them for the rest of their life? You think things like that help the economy?

You really are such a nice person, I wish I could be as nice and cool as you...

Have you read through the student loans repayment terms? They are ridiculously good. It's only 9% of the amount over £15000/year that you earn, so theres no pressure to pay if you arn't earning, and even when you do pay, It's not going to have you in poverty because of the £15k threshold.

I can't see why the grant money shouldn't be tacked onto the loan and paid back eventually when they can afford it. As it is, it's an unnecessary use of our taxes that could be put to better use elsewhere - reduced course fees for everyone would be a good start.

Energize · 17 Jan 2009 at 22:32

It might as well be a grant because anyone earning £15k is going to have the loan written off anyway.

Dave · 17 Jan 2009 at 22:38

I quite like it, I get £1450 ish of my student loan as a non-repayable grant. My Dad set aside money for a university "fund" for me and my sister too so I don't pay for my accommodation here . . . makes people sick

My Mum always complains about uni funds (parents are divorced) as a taxpayer - doesn't help that I don't think I'll live in the UK when I've finished my degree!

BigglesPiP · 17 Jan 2009 at 23:53

The grant should be based on grades.

Get enough for a 1st and get £15k next year.

Get a 3rd and have your fees tripled.

Tefal · 17 Jan 2009 at 23:55

Dave said:
My Mum always complains about uni funds

tell her to go **** herself and at least your dad cares about your future.

BigglesPiP · 17 Jan 2009 at 23:59

To the naysayers, would you pay the complete cost of sending your kids to uni, if they want to go. Remember, even at £3,000 a year, the courses are still mostly government funded.

What if you can't afford to, will you take and extra job and live on baked beans to make up the difference?

Gackt · 18 Jan 2009 at 00:00

Zarf said:
Have you read through the student loans repayment terms? They are ridiculously good. It's only 9% of the amount over £15000/year that you earn, so theres no pressure to pay if you arn't earning, and even when you do pay, It's not going to have you in poverty because of the £15k threshold.

I can't see why the grant money shouldn't be tacked onto the loan and paid back eventually when they can afford it. As it is, it's an unnecessary use of our taxes that could be put to better use elsewhere - reduced course fees for everyone would be a good start.

Debt is debt. Regardless of if it's £1 over a million years. You are still owing. I don't know about you, but I don't like the concept of being in debt, full stop.