Uni - How do you afford it?

shifty_uk · 15 May 2007 at 12:12

I'm looking to get into London Uni next year, but I've recently been adding up all the costs and looking at possible funding and I have no idea how I'm going to afford it!

The tuition fees are £3000 per year, which ends up £9000 for the three years. On top of this I'll need to pay for accommodation, living costs and study materials, but somehow I don't even think a part-time job would be of any advantage.

I've spoken to a few people who've said their parents pay their tuition, or accommodation fees....but no way would I get anyone paying that ammount for me.

As thread title says - How on earth do you afford it?

Will_3rd · 15 May 2007 at 12:14

generous parents pay my tuition fees, loan covers the accommodation in full, plus I get an allowance (again from parents) every week for shopping, books etc

Eriedor · 15 May 2007 at 12:14

Student loan......

I believe now with top up fees you can get two loans, one for living expenses and one for tuition fees which goes directly to the university.

That coupled with a part time job and I struggle to see how people can't afford uni.

Rebelius · 15 May 2007 at 12:15

Scottish so I get tuition fees paid until I'm earning

~850 per year from the student loans people
200/mo from my parents
300/mo from a PT job

work all summer so I have enough to make it through the year.

£2750 interest free overdraft.

Working the summers is the real key though.

platypus · 15 May 2007 at 12:16

Nowadays, you get into stupidly high amounts of debt.

Zefan · 15 May 2007 at 12:16

Loans...

I get a £3000 loan for my fees and a £3000 for my £3600 accommodation.

My parents give me £75 a week which covers living costs, I know loads of people who don't get this but they have grants and bursaries from the uni.

Basically it's extremely easy to afford uni. Anyone who wants to go, can.

Johnny Girth · 15 May 2007 at 12:17

I thought you didn't pay any of the top-up fees until AFTER you'd left uni?

So it should be easier for students nowadays as you've just got accomodation/food etc.

shifty_uk · 15 May 2007 at 12:18

Will_3rd said:
generous parents pay my tuition fees, loan covers the accommodation in full, plus I get an allowance (again from parents) every week for shopping, books etc

Incredibly generous! Very lucky.

Rebelius said:
Scottish so I get tuition fees paid until I'm earning

Do SAAS pay for tuition fees if your studying in England? They pay my tuition so far, but it only costs around £1K per year.

platypus said:
Nowadays, you get into stupidly high amounts of debt.

Another thing I'm afraid of.

ArmyofHarmony · 15 May 2007 at 12:18

I haven't cut back on costs at all, but im not in London

pay for rent with student loan, parents play tuition fees (which is much less than yours I think, like a grand a year) and they give me 400 a term for food etc. I always have a fair amount of spare money to go out with left over.

Serj · 15 May 2007 at 12:19

Mum pays for tuition fees, mum bought me a house for my remaining 3 years (she paid for accom in the first year) and the (minimum) loan just about covers my car, food etc.

I'm very very lucky but i intend to pay my mum back over the next 40 years, not necessarily in cash but i'm going to make sure i do everything possible to make her retirement as comfortable as possible

[edit] Oh and i'd like to point out that i don't do a stupid wishy washy course and i don't get drunk every night. I work very hard because i know she has made a huge effort to get me here.

ArmyofHarmony · 15 May 2007 at 12:19

You could do what my economics teacher did, and skip the country to go teach in Thailand after Uni, to avoid tuition fees... lol

Hugogo · 15 May 2007 at 12:20

Fortunatly my parents pay for...er almost everything. Except for my social life.

A2Z · 15 May 2007 at 12:22

im in 2nd year so still on the £1200 fees, in 1st year dad paid accomodation, mum paid fees, got £50/week from each of them (they are not together)

this year dad still pays accomodation and gives me £50/week, but mum decided i should get a job and pay fees myself and she doesnt give me anymore food money

so i just got a loan instead, used that to pay fees, the rest to clear my £1500 overdraft i had somehow all used up lol and food etc, although i have got a part-time job now for extra cash

Chris1712 · 15 May 2007 at 12:22

Loan for tuition fees, loan for accomodation, loan for living.

Means im gonna have a nice chunk (£40k+?) debt after though!

Helium_Junkie · 15 May 2007 at 12:23

Zefan said:
Basically it's extremely easy to afford uni. Anyone who wants to go, can.

Absolutely! If you have parents who can help, or qualify for extra bursaries...

With rent or travel running into several thousand pounds, tuition at £3k per year, even the highest loan can be an extreme stretch for some of the less 'fortunate'.

With as much as the loans company could give us, and a part time job working far too many hours to make the most of a years study, and with me trying to subsidise her as well... my gf still wouldn't be able to afford it

Shame since she was offered an unconditional place.

PaulStat · 15 May 2007 at 12:24

Had my dad fund me

shifty_uk · 15 May 2007 at 12:24

Chris1712 said:
Loan for tuition fees, loan for accomodation, loan for living.

Means im gonna have a nice chunk (£40k+?) debt after though!

That's a fairly big chunk! Does having student debt effect the possabilities of getting loans(eg business loans etc) in future?

Chris1712 · 15 May 2007 at 12:25

shifty_uk said:
That's a fairly big chunk! Does having student debt effect the possabilities of getting loans(eg business loans etc) in future?

I'm not 100% sure, but i dont think it counts towards your 'credit rating'.

Rebelius · 15 May 2007 at 12:25

shifty_uk said:
Do SAAS pay for tuition fees if your studying in England? They pay my tuition so far, but it only costs around £1K per year.

I'm not studying in England so I'm not sure - My sister went to uni in York and I think my parents had to pay tuition fees for her, but she graduated last summer and I think things have changed since then so not totally sure.

calnen · 15 May 2007 at 12:26

My whole degree has either been paid for with summer work, or is on a loan. (I'm at the end of a 3-year course and owe about 12K.) But then I get cheaper tuition fees than you will do - I'm paying about £1200 a year.

A lot of people seem to manage to go travelling all summer and have their parents pay for holidays, cars and all the normal costs, which ticks me off slightly! But there you are

I say working night shifts washing dishes all summer holiday builds character