Student Financial Survival Guide
June 27th, 2005
Although the new term is some way off, it’s never too soon to start thinking about finances, and for university students it’s no exception.
I was probably one of the last of the lucky students who didn’t have to pay tuition fees. I also received a student grant to help cover living costs - the grant was usually eaten up by accomodation, although in my third year spent in France, I got a much bigger amount yet the accomodation was far cheaper (although not up to the standard we come to expect in British universities) - I may have just about made a profit that year.
I was also lucky in that I didn’t feel that I needed to get a job during term time (well I didn’t want it affecting my studies now, did I?), although I did work during the summers when back home. I also took out student loans when necessary - those are being paid-off as we speak.
Unfortunately for most students now the situation is a lot more difficult - the average student debt is now around £8,400 (I left with £5000 debt, although being all in student loans the interest rate is reasonably low). It’s not uncommon for those doing longer courses to come away with debts as much as £15,000 - £20,000.
Here are a few resources to sites that might help students with their finances:
- Tiscali Student Survival Guide, inlcuding a useful student budget calculator.
- MSN Student Finance section.
- Student Finance Direct, help with student finances (England & Wales).
- AimHigher, student financial issues from the Department for Eduction and Skills.
1 Comment on “Student Financial Survival Guide”
Papers4You, October 14th, 2007 at 2:46 pm
I can contain my student debt in the next school term from the savings I made for selling of my essays. It allowed me to earn extra money all the time without conflicting with my work and study schedules. I never thought this could be this quite good.
