Associate
I'm a student, been at uni for a few years, and am starting to get a little annoyed at the constant talk of making university "more accessible" to student of "poorer backgrounds".
Firstly I better say that I was against the tuition fees hike, although I do understand why it happened, I believe it will do nothing in the short term (5 years) to alleviate any problems. The government will have to loan the money to the universities at first anyway, and will not start seeing any money back for at LEAST 4 years, and will not make it back for decades.
In my years at uni I have received a small amount of money (~£500) from my Mum (who is better off than my Dad/Stepmum) in my first year after my loan didn't come through till Christmas (3 months of living of my summer savings).
Other than that I have got nothing from anyone..
I have a job (started this week), I run a car, have for the last year, had a job a year ago for 6 months, and worked the summer before last.
I don't need the job, but I want to keep my car and I want to go on holiday this summer with my girlfriend and my climbing club.
I know a lot of people who come from poor backgrounds, and a lot of people who come from richer backgrounds.
The talk of Universities having to spend more and more money on poorer students and the constant media attention saying "people wont be able to afford to go to university" is getting to me. And I know I am not the only one.
There is a loan for the tuition fees.
There is a maintenance loan for your living expenses.
There are already many state grants, and even more university grants for those that need them.
At Portsmouth there is even a "hardship fund", £500 if you are really struggling with money mid term. Doesn't matter how you get there, if you are struggling they will help you.
I haven't paid a PENNY towards my going to university tuition fees, I have worked yes, but because I wanted to have more luxuries, NOT because it is necessary.
And I wont pay back anything until I leave and have a job paying well enough to be able to afford it!
There is no reason for people to worry about the cost of university, the loans and grants are already out there, you don't pay a thing back till you start earning, you simply don't need to worry about it.
Its articles like this:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-12665503
That gets to me, why should people have to pay different amounts? Regardless of your background, you can afford to do university without any parental help whatsoever. I have proved this, and so have others I know too.
Just feels like media scaremongering, making people worried, making prospective students think they can't afford it whereas they can.
TL;DR: Media making people think they can't afford it when they can, they don't pay a penny till they finish, no parental help is needed at all, you can do it all on the maintenance loan.
Firstly I better say that I was against the tuition fees hike, although I do understand why it happened, I believe it will do nothing in the short term (5 years) to alleviate any problems. The government will have to loan the money to the universities at first anyway, and will not start seeing any money back for at LEAST 4 years, and will not make it back for decades.
In my years at uni I have received a small amount of money (~£500) from my Mum (who is better off than my Dad/Stepmum) in my first year after my loan didn't come through till Christmas (3 months of living of my summer savings).
Other than that I have got nothing from anyone..
I have a job (started this week), I run a car, have for the last year, had a job a year ago for 6 months, and worked the summer before last.
I don't need the job, but I want to keep my car and I want to go on holiday this summer with my girlfriend and my climbing club.
I know a lot of people who come from poor backgrounds, and a lot of people who come from richer backgrounds.
The talk of Universities having to spend more and more money on poorer students and the constant media attention saying "people wont be able to afford to go to university" is getting to me. And I know I am not the only one.
There is a loan for the tuition fees.
There is a maintenance loan for your living expenses.
There are already many state grants, and even more university grants for those that need them.
At Portsmouth there is even a "hardship fund", £500 if you are really struggling with money mid term. Doesn't matter how you get there, if you are struggling they will help you.
I haven't paid a PENNY towards my going to university tuition fees, I have worked yes, but because I wanted to have more luxuries, NOT because it is necessary.
And I wont pay back anything until I leave and have a job paying well enough to be able to afford it!
There is no reason for people to worry about the cost of university, the loans and grants are already out there, you don't pay a thing back till you start earning, you simply don't need to worry about it.
Its articles like this:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-12665503
That gets to me, why should people have to pay different amounts? Regardless of your background, you can afford to do university without any parental help whatsoever. I have proved this, and so have others I know too.
Just feels like media scaremongering, making people worried, making prospective students think they can't afford it whereas they can.
TL;DR: Media making people think they can't afford it when they can, they don't pay a penny till they finish, no parental help is needed at all, you can do it all on the maintenance loan.
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