University Subsistence

[Citizen of Legoland]

I used to pay their accommodation and they would live off their loan so they were no worse off than if they were entitled to the grant.

That’s what we did. If they had any money left at the end of the year they were supposed to pay us back but surprisingly there never was!

 

[Hayley Croppers chopper]

That’s what we did. If they had any money left at the end of the year they were supposed to pay us back but surprisingly there never was!

My mates gave their daughter that option, she was only in Uni one day a week so wasted the rest heading home to be with her boyfriend.

 

[anyoldblu]

I used to pay their accommodation and they would live off their loan so they were no worse off than if they were entitled to the grant.

Exactly what I do with mine: made sure they weren't staying somewhere stupid and that the rent was covered so I was confident they had somewhere to live. The rest is down to loan and working.

 

[Mad Eyed Screamer]

When my youngest daughter went to Salford Uni i was shocked to hear she was barely in a classroom for 2 days a week.

 

[meltonblue]

When my youngest daughter went to Salford Uni i was shocked to hear she was barely in a classroom for 2 days a week.

When I went (20 years ago) it was 14 hrs a week in class. A lot depends on the course though.

 

[journolud]

Can't quite remember but I think we gave our son £250 a month. Plus stocked him up with shopping whenever we were there. And paid for his season ticket.

 

[Mad Eyed Screamer]

When I went (20 years ago) it was 14 hrs a week in class. A lot depends on the course though.

I went in 89 to 91 and it was 4 and a half days in class and Wednesday after noon self study time (which I didn't do)

 

[The Light Was Yellow Sir]

How much do you give your kids to live on when they go to university.
I am in the fortunate position that both my kids start as freshers in the next fortnight.
I expect them to get a part time job for the days not in university.
The rent is mainly covered by the student maintenance loan, but it will leave nothing for food.
Thanks.

We paid the rent for ours.

 

[Kompany Car]

As others have said, sometimes working part-time just isn’t an option depending on the course. I went to uni about 14 years ago now to do a STEM subject and I had about 40-50 hour weeks, more during exam season which was twice a year. The university told us that trying to work on top of that was the most common predictor of failing. That’s because it’s not like a manual job where you can physically push through to work longer hours, it is all mental work and the hours can drive you mad. I worked harder back then than I’ve ever done in any real job since.

I did a bit of work over the summer breaks to supplement what I had but during the year I had to just survive on maintenance grant. I got the full whack grant because my parent’s income was very low. Honestly, don’t know how I did it looking back but I remember a lot of Tesco value packs of noodles were involved and maxing my student overdraft and credit card. I suspect it’s even worse these days with current cost of living. Whether you live at home or not makes a big difference, I was in Edinburgh so nowhere near home. It was character-building but honestly a pretty awful lifestyle.

In answer to your question, I was living on about £10k a year I think. Rent and bills were most of that. I think I remember working out I had about £50 per week and I just about survived (this was 2009). Based on that I would ensure they have at least £100 pw after bills with the way things are now if they are living away from home otherwise they might come home with scurvy.

I admit it was a while ago (early 90s) when I did my bachelors in Applied Physics, but I worked 2 nights a week in a bar and every summer on the building sites so that I could have a decent lifestyle while studying. The summer work was great, 500 a week as a sparkies mate. Used to take 2 weeks off in the summer for a lads holiday. Still graduated with a comfortable 2:1.
To me, working a little whilst studying, grounds people in reality. As someone who signs off on the recruitment of 40+ STEM graduates a year from Russell Group universities, my preference is always towards people with a 2:1 and work experience, rather than a 1st and no work experience.

 

[west didsblue]

Covid hit half way through my youngest’s second year so I was paying for an empty house from March onwards. At least until I got an email reminder that I had to pay in full after which I thought fuck ‘em.