Finding an Alternative to University

If you have failed to gain a university place this year and are looking for an alternative to university, what can you do?

There are many paths which offer an alternative to university, including apprenticeships, vocational qualifications gained at Further Education Colleges, entry level jobs, taking a gap year and resitting exams. Read More »

Going to University? How to Finance Your Studies

As students await exam results which will determine whether or not they get a university place, how to finance your studies is high on the agenda with student debt is projected to increase dramatically over the next few years

According to research, students are now accumulating £5,600 debt for each year at college and the total for students starting their degrees in 2010 is predicted as £25,000.

With more young people applying for university places, more applicants than ever will miss out if they don’t get the required grades, but with the prospect of so much debt, this might not be such a bad thing.

Repayment of loans kicks in when graduates start to earn £15,000 or more, but just how many graduates can expect to walk into a top paying job?

The bad news is that graduate unemployment has risen by 25%, with many of last year’s graduates who were hit by the recession still looking for work.

So what does this mean for would be students? If you have already applied to university, check out all the funding options available to you. You can finance your studies through free money ie grants and bursaries which don’t have to be paid back, student loans which are paid back but at favourable rates and of course, part-time work.

Learn to budget and to cook – this will save you money! You’ll need to work out how much you need to live on, how much you are entitled to in grants and/or bursaries and how much you can borrow.

Work out how you much you will have to spend each month and set aside money for rent etc. There is enough pressure being a student these days without squandering all your money and ending up with nowhere to live.

For more information, go to Finance Your Studies

Click the link for information on student loan and consolidation

For more information on budgeting go to budgeting for students

News Sources http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-10952303