Student Loans/Grants

wellquickwoody · Nov 13, 2014

Just watching Watchdog on the Beeb.

One woman up north, apparently single with 2 kids , complained that her grant was reduced from c£19k to £3k (remember tax free) between years 1 and 2. I concur with her, big difference.

But £19k? Equivalent to £26k pre tax to the rest of us? Possibly receiving housing benefit and other bits n pieces? Can this possibly make sense? We give someone the equivalent of a decent wage to go to Uni/College and thus avoiding the need to work, why don't we all do it?

Herr Tubthumper · Nov 13, 2014

why don't we all do it? I'll ask you, why don't you go and educate yourself at Uni ?

Herr Tubthumper · Nov 13, 2014

PS at least 10k of that will be gobbled up in Uni fees.

Blue Valkyrie · Nov 13, 2014

I was lucky enough to go to university when the tutition was free for all, and a parental means-tested maintenance grant of around 2.5K per year was available for 'living expenses' (ie beer money ). We could also sign on for unemployment benefit and housing benefit in the summer break, without even having to look for work as just being a student was enough to qualify.

As such I can't really begrudge any current student getting a grant.

ATFC Seagull · Nov 13, 2014

Is it a grant or a loan? Massive difference, you don't seem sure yourself.

What was she studying? Was it vocational, perhaps something like nursing which we need more of?

Was she having to support these kids? If so, isn't it quite long-term-thinking of her to go to uni and get qualified? 3 years of paying is better than 18.

Not gonna get on this bandwagon.

Thumbs_down · Nov 13, 2014

The whole system is broken.

Living costs are too high. Even students need somewhere to live.

Tuition fees are too high. How long does it take for a graduate to pay their debts these days?

Salaries are too low. Even the "middle classes" mostly doesn't have a pot to piss in, as for the working classes...

...and what has the average graduate got to show for it? Thousands have been duped into investing in utterly pointless degrees (sorry philosophy, media, drama, etc graduates) by the education minister of ten years ago. While those who get the more practical degrees are often sucked into irrelevant jobs or industries which are dull, unrewarding or lack career progression now that degrees have become so common and meaningless.

wellquickwoody · Nov 13, 2014

Herr Tubthumper said:
why don't we all do it? I'll ask you, why don't you go and educate yourself at Uni ?

I was expected to do just that as a youth, but I made some poor decisions. Now I am paying for other peoples poor decisions.

sir albion · Nov 13, 2014

Probably a grant which will never be paid back like most students :glare:

Herr Tubthumper · Nov 13, 2014

wellquickwoody said:
I was expected to do just that as a youth, but I made some poor decisions. Now I am paying for other peoples poor decisions.

It's never too late to go and get extra education. I know people who have taken degrees in the 30s, 40s and 50s. I know a Phd student who is 60.

Barrel of Fun · Nov 13, 2014

wellquickwoody said:
I was expected to do just that as a youth, but I made some poor decisions. Now I am paying for other peoples poor decisions.

Why is their decision poor?

The whole system is broken. Even simple PA jobs require/request a degree.

Nowadays, you need to spend big to earn little.

Herr Tubthumper · Nov 13, 2014

Thumbs_down said:
Thousands have been duped into investing in utterly pointless degrees (sorry philosophy, media, drama, etc graduates)

Quite an anti-intellectual statement. Given the high rates of youth unemployment you could argue it's utterly pointless even bothering with schools these days??

And the old media chestnut. An industry which is growing daily and worth 36 billion to the UK economy each year.

sir albion · Nov 13, 2014

Herr Tubthumper said:
It's never too late to go and get extra education. I know people who have taken degrees in the 30s, 40s and 50s. I know a Phd student who is 60.

Agree although it's also an easy way to get extra money for many

dazzer6666 · Nov 13, 2014

Thumbs_down said:
The whole system is broken.

Living costs are too high. Even students need somewhere to live.

Tuition fees are too high. How long does it take for a graduate to pay their debts these days?

Salaries are too low. Even the "middle classes" mostly doesn't have a pot to piss in, as for the working classes...

...and what has the average graduate got to show for it? Thousands have been duped into investing in utterly pointless degrees (sorry philosophy, media, drama, etc graduates) by the education minister of ten years ago. While those who get the more practical degrees are often sucked into irrelevant jobs or industries which are dull, unrewarding or lack career progression now that degrees have become so common and meaningless.

Agreed. To add to this, try and get a plumber, carpenter or electrician........why aren't we making trades more attractive to bright kids instead of these being seen as the preserve of the less educated ? Well done Blair, getting 50% of kids into Uni was such a great idea (in case it matters, I have a daughter at Uni - nursing degree, required to enter nursing at any sensible level)

Herr Tubthumper · Nov 13, 2014

sir albion said:
Agree although it's also an easy way to get extra money for many

Pay for education seems a fair swop to me. I wish more did it.

Herr Tubthumper · Nov 13, 2014

dazzer6666 said:
Agreed. To add to this, try and get a plumber, carpenter or electrician........why aren't we making trades more attractive to bright kids instead of these being seen as the preserve of the less educated ? Well done Blair, getting 50% of kids into Uni was such a great idea (in case it matters, I have a daughter at Uni - nursing degree, required to enter nursing at any sensible level)

Plumbing etc are highly respected trades here in Germany and as I understand it you have to have some sort of permit to practice and sit annual exams to keep current. It all helps to raise the standard of service and respect of the profession. I can only imagine the UK reaction to licenses and yearly exams.

sir albion · Nov 13, 2014

ATFC Seagull said:
Is it a grant or a loan? Massive difference, you don't seem sure yourself.

What was she studying? Was it vocational, perhaps something like nursing which we need more of?

Was she having to support these kids? If so, isn't it quite long-term-thinking of her to go to uni and get qualified? 3 years of paying is better than 18.

Not gonna get on this bandwagon.

No because she'll earn an average salary and will never pay it back...Only 50% of student grants are ever paid back,so obviously many who get good qualifications choose lower paid jobs instead of higher paid jobs to avoid paying it back.

The system is defo broke

Bry Nylon · Nov 13, 2014

Blue Valkyrie said:
I was lucky enough to go to university when the tutition was free for all, and a parental means-tested maintenance grant of around 2.5K per year was available for 'living expenses' (ie beer money ). We could also sign on for unemployment benefit and housing benefit in the summer break, without even having to look for work as just being a student was enough to qualify.

Same here. Happy days. :drink:

brightn'ove · Nov 13, 2014

dazzer6666 said:
Agreed. To add to this, try and get a plumber, carpenter or electrician........why aren't we making trades more attractive to bright kids instead of these being seen as the preserve of the less educated ? Well done Blair, getting 50% of kids into Uni was such a great idea (in case it matters, I have a daughter at Uni - nursing degree, required to enter nursing at any sensible level)

Because to do those jobs you have to work hard for **** all money, with no guarantee of a job after you complete your apprenticeship?

dazzer6666 · Nov 13, 2014

brightn'ove said:
Because to do those jobs you have to work hard for **** all money, with no guarantee of a job after you complete your apprenticeship?

No guarantee of a job after Uni either, and you leave with 40,000 of loans. Glad I'm not 16........

dazzer6666 · Nov 13, 2014

ATFC Seagull said:
Is it a grant or a loan? Massive difference, you don't seem sure yourself.

What was she studying? Was it vocational, perhaps something like nursing which we need more of?

Was she having to support these kids? If so, isn't it quite long-term-thinking of her to go to uni and get qualified? 3 years of paying is better than 18.

Not gonna get on this bandwagon.

Nursing students don't pay fees, but they have to do several weeks 'placement' when all the others are holiday. Depending on where they study they may also get a bursary towards living costs.

Parents - get your kids to study nursing if they insist on going to Uni

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