Amazing - our students have to pay the most of any country in the word - 51,000 quid. Second is the USA - 25,000. How on earth has this happened and been allowed for as long as it has? I despair about our politicians.

Do you think the taxpayer should fund their education?

Essentially yes, I do.

Free education for all - or should some criteria/qualifications/achievements apply?

We already provide free healthcare!

And a large variety of benefits - to make us the migrants destination of choice...

JK2006 wrote:
Amazing - our students have to pay the most of any country in the word - 51,000 quid. Second is the USA - 25,000.

Not strictly true.

They pay NOTHING until they are employed - and with a degree will get better and more highly paid employment.

They then only pay once they earn over £21,000 - and only pay on the amount over £21,000.

If the debt is not paid by the end of the period it is written off.

I'd say that someone paying YOU to get a better qualification so that you can earn more money - with no outlay (or risk to yourself) is a damned good deal !

That'll teach me to believe what I see in the media, ITK.

In addition, if you no longer live in the UK, the debt is not recoverable. A foreign student from an EU country can attend a UK university and is entitled to student loans under the same terms as a domestic student. Upon graduation, he can promptly sod off and never pay anything back at all.

Same applies to a British student who emigrates. Thanks for the money. Off to work abroad. See ya.

If debts not paid by the end of the 'period' are written off - why would anyone with them bother attempting to repay them?

What rubbish...

Spee wrote:
If debts not paid by the end of the 'period' are written off - why would anyone with them bother attempting to repay them?

What rubbish...




If you don't earn over £21,000 (rising to £25,000 this year), you don't have to pay them off, then you pay at 6% per year above your salary. If you don't earn enough over 30 years to pay for this (including interest), then the rest is written off. If you don't earn more than £25,000 after graduating I would have to question whether it is worth your while going to university at all. Personally I think University is over-rated, most people leave University and take up a job that is not related their degree at all.

robbiex wrote:
If you don't earn over £21,000 (rising to £25,000 this year), you don't have to pay them off, then you pay at 6% per year above your salary. If you don't earn enough over 30 years to pay for this (including interest), then the rest is written off.

Quite correct, robbiex (as I always am .... lol !)

robbiex wrote:

If you don't earn over £21,000, then you pay at 6% per year above your salary over 30 years

Really half a lifetime at B + 5.5% interest then!?

Yes - 30 years can be a very long time with a £50,000 debt burden.

Having to pay interest on it of 6% pa - before you've got a job!

And £50,000 is just the average (BBC).


Not really the solution - is it...

I am a bit uncomfortable with the idea of us financially supporting the brightest and most able youngsters and giving the less gifted ones, who probably need more help, nothing at all.

honey!oh sugar sugar. wrote:
I am a bit uncomfortable with the idea of us financially supporting the brightest and most able youngsters and giving the less gifted ones, who probably need more help, nothing at all.

In one case, we have a chance of getting something back - in the second case its like pouring money down the drain (as is any secondary education !)!