University visits - class of 2020

[Ds4ljs]

Hope student finance isn’t too complex. Dreading it!

[jndt]

Originally Posted by ChoppyGirl

Once my daughter has paid for her accommodation she will have £9 left for the year with the maintenance grant she will get

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My sons grant won't cover his rent - about half in fact (he's going to Durham or York).

[soooexcited!]

DD has a accepted her place for BGU Lincoln. I'm so chuffed for her and ever so slightly nervous and relieved in equal measure. This is the 2nd crack at uni. So we've been here before. I'm relieved she didnt pick a uni even further away. She now has a health issue that requires reg input so I'm pleased shes under 3 hours away not 6. X

[scoobydooby]

Originally Posted by jdndt

My sons grant won't cover his rent - about half in fact (he's going to Durham or York).

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Yep same here. Have you seen the cost of the most expensive rooms at York 😱😱😱

[jndt]

Originally Posted by scoobydooby

Yep same here. Have you seen the cost of the most expensive rooms at York 😱😱😱

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They are cheaper than Durham by over £1000! I just keep thinking it's just the first year the costs so much, once they privately rent they can look at cheaper options. It was cheaper to live out 20 odd years ago when I went.

[DisneyDaffodil]

Originally Posted by jdndt

They are cheaper than Durham by over £1000! I just keep thinking it's just the first year the costs so much, once they privately rent they can look at cheaper options. It was cheaper to live out 20 odd years ago when I went.

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Sadly not always the case anymore. My DD has just signed for her house share for next year, her second year, with her friends in Bristol. It’s the same price as her halls this year, but doesn’t include any of the utility bills and it’s a 52 week contract, not a 40 week one as this year’s, so it’s going to be a lot more expensive.

She could have saved £10-15 pw by going out of the city and catching a bus in from around 5 miles away, so there are cheaper options but they are usually less convenient. Bristol is known to be one of the more expensive university cities, but I think a lot of last year’s starters on our other thread are saying that next year is even more expensive.

My DD also has had to pay a one month security deposit, and will have to pay her first quarterly rent payment on 1 July which means she won’t have a loan payment to go towards it 😔

[ChoppyGirl]

It really is shocking the price of halls, especially when the maintenance loan doesn't cover it. I know the loan is based on parent's earnings and they are expected to make up for the shortfall but it doesn't take into account the parent's outgoings. I mean - me and DH are having to miss out on going to WDW for a few years to pay for DD going through uni

All joking aside, it is a struggle for them and hopefully DD will be able to budget ok. We will do a 'big shop' when we drop her off (that's assuming she gets her A levels) and will buy all her equipment as she will need protective gear and buy a bus pass. We are thinking about giving her £50 per week for food and socialising and hoping she can do extra hours at work this summer to save some herself.

She is hoping to study at the University of Surrey which is in Guildford and I have been looking at private rents for the year after. As it is not too far from London, accommodation has a premium rate so, like DisneyDaffodil, the prices will go up when DD moves out of halls and not down. The landlords round universities are on a right little earner!

[Ds4ljs]

DD hoping to go to Liverpool. Just doing her guarantor stuff for accommodation now. All very new to us all!

[ChoppyGirl]

Originally Posted by Ds4ljs

DD hoping to go to Liverpool. Just doing her guarantor stuff for accommodation now. All very new to us all!

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DD liked the look of Liverpool but unfortunately didn't get an offer. What was odd was that she had to apply for accommodation before they gave out the offers (vet med were all given out on the same day). We really liked the look of the accommodation there, especially Crown Place.

[tinytots]

Originally Posted by jdndt

My sons grant won't cover his rent - about half in fact (he's going to Durham or York).

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Same here. DD will either go to Durham or Lancaster. We are not holidaying in WDW this year either. Its a real shame they don't take outgoings into account with student finance. Friends of ours who are probably on a very similar income, have a lot more disposable income, have no mortgage and cost of living is a lot lower, whereas we live in South East,living costs are higher and have a high mortgage, yet our DDs get the same amount of maintenance loan. Not a fair game in my eyes.

Hope everyone has their offers back now.