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Student Finance


trialsmax04

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Right mainly my fault because i havnt really done much research into it. But basicly ive applied to uni this year and will (hopefully) be going off in october.

Now by using the Directgov finance calculator i am entitled to a £3,500 maintainence loan (tuition fees on top) , but the cost of Halls (self catered) is around £4400 a year.

Now im in a bit of a flap because i really cannot afford my living costs (food, accomodation and other basic costs) for even the first year.

Anyone else know much about the subject? Pleeeeaaaasssee :(

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Look for cheaper accomodation.

Yours is working out at £100 per week for 44 weeks..

And that's self catered, I pay £91 and i'm catered so I don't have to buy much food through the week at all.

I think it probably depends which uni you're at but surely you can get a cheaper deal?

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Yea check on Student Finance for a Maintenance Grant, this you don't have to pay back but you may be entitled to due to your household/parental income. This could be up to £3000 for the whole year.

Other one as said is a bursary or scholarship, depending on what course you are doing you may be eligible for a scholarship which is paid out to students who perform well or have performed well. Every university is also obliged to give a bursary to students which can be spent on books and equipment (or whatever you want) the minimum they have to give you is something like £300, they should be still doing this. I'm getting half of my £1000 bursary paid tomorrow, fun times.

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Could look into company sponsorship, I got sponsored for an engineering degree and had a year out doing paid work and get a generous bursary while at uni. Halls sound a lot wherever your going, I think I paid around 65 per week for 39 weeks in 2006/2007. Apart from that just get a job asap and budget

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Yeah Id seriously question that cost. Universities know how much is available moneywise and they wouldn't charge something like that unless your a posh rich b*****d who can afford it (which most of us aren't)

Find alternative university managed accomodation, there MUST be cheaper alternatives around. Failing that, in your second year you typically have to find your own house to live in and for swansea they price around £50 - £80 a week. Even then rent is about £960 a term, third term is shorter so its around £2700 a year?

I went to the student loans company for mine. Easy enough and we were shown it was 'the norm'. God bless the conservatives eh? wankers.....

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Cheers for the replies guys. I'm still insure about the whole thing. I've had a look around And the £110 per week halls are the only option for me (only alternative is £105 per week yet there would be costs of commuting ). Over 41 weeks that equates to £4510. Really shitting it where I'm going to find that money in time :(

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Might be worth asking Mr Pearson if he's got any ideas. If you go outside of the uni halls route chances are you'll be able to find an alternative hall/houseshare arrangement for a bit less moolah that'll make it more doable.

Working a shift a week and full time through the holidays will sort you out though, remember you've got some nice long summers to earn some dough. (Y)

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Firstly, how much do your parents make? Because if its not a lot (less than around 25k) you could be eligable for bursaries/grants. If they do earn a bit and can spare some, beg. Make them see it as an investment in your future that you could one day pay back. If they do this, do not - under any circumstances - ever stop thanking them. The guy you want to speak to at Falmouth for bursaries is called Will Wears, and you can get to him through the Woodlane switchboard on 01326 211 077.

Second, the halls are expensive, but there are alternatives. Come May/June, a shit load of people are gonna move out of the private sector; get stuck in hunting for somewhere now. I can help with this.

Thirdly, who do you bank with? Most students make fairly comfy friends with their overdrafts whilst at uni, and finding the bank that gives you the biggest one to hold you off until that next loan payment is a smart move (Natwest gives me a nice interst free one up to 1500pounds at the moment).

Fourth, find work. I can also help with this, as its partly my responsibily to hire new students; you're a friendly, intelligent and hard working chap; student ambassador rates start at 6.23 an hour (a full open day working 8 hours with a free lunch and all the free coffee you can drink thrown in earns you a tidy 49.84). There is other work available depending on your skills and availability. Places like Asda (15 mins from Campus) or Wetherspoons (Falmouth town) are ALWAYS turning over old -> new staff.

Fifth, work your nuts off as soon as you have your grades in the bag. Get as many hours work in as you can. Its warm, we can ride in the evenings.

Sixth, remember that most other students are in this situation, and they've all managed to get through. Debt is a standard fact of being a student these days, and very, very few people manage to avoid it.

Lastly, ask yourself not "Do I really want to go?" but rather "What would I do if I didn't?"

On that last one, I am not in anyway trying to sway your mind, you just have to genuinely think; what do I want to do with my life? Because one way or another, three years more education will definitely change your life.

Best of luck chap, give me a call if you need to.

Rich x

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