University, who pays?

[tissy]

Dh's son, who lives elsewhere in the UK with his mother (and her new husband)is applying for University places (in England, I think).

It's a very long time since I was at University, and I'm a bit confused about who pays what!

Tuition fees- used to be free, now, how much? Is it means tested , and if so who is tested? Will we be asked to stump up? (We already pay about £3000 pounds per year maintenance- voluntary, not court order, if it makes any difference).

Living expenses- I used to get a grant, now it's a loan, I believe. Again, is that dependent on what parent/ parents earn, and do we have to contribute/ guarantee loan in anyway?

BTW, I'm quite happy to pay our share if required, but it would be nice to be prepared!

[Tabs]

Hi Tissy - quite a while since I was there too, but I think that it's all down to the child, as they are actually an adult themselves by the time they go!

Have a feeling that the tuition fees can vary between diff universities, but think most of the good ones charge about £3k per annum.

Believe that the loan is totally independent of your earnings, and the child only has to pay it back once they are earning above national average wage.

Hope I'm not way off the mark with this!

[Janh]

Hi, tissy. Tuition fees will be £3K upwards next year but not paid upfront, they are added to the student loan debt (this is why so many are trying to get in this term as it is still around £1K a year). I'm not sure if the future fees will be means-tested - prob not since repayment dependant on graduate's earnings.

There will still be a loan (max £4K+, again subject to means test but everybody should get at least close to £4K - iyswim!) There will also be means-tested grants but not v big.

HTH.

[Janh]

Parents' earnings means-tested btw, not child's, unless child has been living independently of parents for at least 3 years.

Fees and funding friendly guide from Sussex.