Advice on university fees - the REAL guide
Advice to take the fear factor out of university fees! If you're thinking about going to uni, money is likely to be a BIG consideration. To be forewarned is to be forearmed and all that, so here's some useful advice on university fees.
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Advice on university fees - what will I have to pay?
Going to uni involves two main types of cost: tuition fees and living expenses. Tuition fees are set by the university, so where you go will affect how much you pay. However, universities can't charge more than £3,145 a year, and they can't put increase them by more than the inflation rate until at least 2010.
You'll also have to pay your living costs - things like rent, bills and food. (And maybe the odd drink!). |
Advice on university fees - how the hell do I pay them?!
Don't panic! Here's some advice on university fees that will help:
Advice on university fees - the main forms of financial support
Higher Education Maintenance Grant - to cover living costs
The good news - they're available to lots of people, and they don't have to be paid back! How much you're entitled to will depend on your income, and usually that of other people (your parents, carers or partners), too. The maximum amount you can claim is £2,835 a year.
Student loans - tuition fee loan
The good news - they're available to everyone, and they're not dependent on anyone's income. And they're optional - you can take it all, or part of it, or none at all.
The not-so-good news - they have to be paid back to the Student Loans Company! (But not til you've left uni and are earning at least £15,000 a year. And the interest rate stays at the rate of inflation, making it cheaper than most bank loans.)
Student loans - maintenance loan
The good news - most students are entitled to 75 per cent of the loan. The other 25 per cent is income-assessed, like the Higher Education Maintenance Grant.
The not-so-good news - it also has to be paid back to the Student Loans Company, but again, not til you're earning a certain amount.
Advice on university fees - help from your university-to-be
Many universities offer grants, bursaries, sponsorships and trust funds - sources of finance that may be available if your or your family's income is low.
The good news - they don't have to be paid back!
The not-so-good news - there's often a lot of competition for them, and you'll have to show you've studied hard for your A Levels.
Now, having given you advice on university fees, here are a few words of advice on taking a gap year…
Advice on university fees - use a gap year to help pay for them!
Taking a gap year can be a way of making some money to put towards your fees or living costs, thus reducing the amount of money you need to borrow. Take a look at our paid work abroad programmes.
Advice on university fees - don't let them put you off taking a gap year!
After reading our advice on university fees page, hopefully university fees will seem less scary. We think of them as an investment in your career, and ultimately your life. In the same way, a gap year is an investment - it's a chance to gain extra skills, lots of life experience, become a more confident and independent person and have something to impress employers with in the future!
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