Warren Shute is a multi award-winning Chartered Financial Planner, money coach, author of #TheMoneyPlan and Sunday Mirror columnist
Students across the country prepared themselves last Thursday when A-Level results were released, a day that decided for them where they will spend the next three or more years.
My daughter Bella was one of the many who joyfully opened her email to discover she’d been accepted into her first-choice university.
On January 31, the deadline to apply for university, there were 600,660 applicants, which is 1.0% higher than the 594,940 applicants in 2024.
University is the first place many of us learn lessons on money management, which can stay with us for life. With a little foresight, those lessons don’t have to be harsh.
Costs and loans
Tuition fees alone often mount up to £30,000 for a three-year degree even before textbooks and other costs are factored in… and that’s before you’ve even bought a drink!
You can apply for a tuition fee loan, the terms of which changed for those starting university in 2023, but this can take up to six weeks to process, so if you haven’t arranged this yet you’ll need to get a move on. These loans cover the full cost of tuition fees upfront and are paid directly to the university or college.
When it comes to living expenses, if you’re going to university in the future, you have time to earn and save up to ease the financial burden. If you haven’t been able to plan, you’ll likely need to rely on borrowing to cover them.
A maintenance loan is available to help with some of your living costs like accommodation, transport and food, but it’s unlikely to cover all your costs, so it’s up to you to make up the shortfall.
How much you get works on a sliding scale, based on where you’re studying and what your household income is. Maintenance loans are means-tested, so students from wealthier families will get less. Loans are paid to you in instalments at the start of each term.
It’s also worth looking into scholarships (for those who excel academically or in sports or music), bursaries, and grants (for those from lower household incomes or based on your personal circumstances). Check the UCAS website for eligibility.
How to survive financially
Set up a simple budget/cash flow spreadsheet to show you how much it will cost you each month for the duration of your course. This helps you see how much you’ll need to earn or borrow to ensure your costs are met, and when your tightest financial periods will be.
Set up a second bank account for your spending and allocate yourself a weekly allowance to cover all your variable spending needs such as shopping and going out. Pay this to yourself on a Wednesday and when it’s spent, don’t dip into your reserves, or your good planning will go to waste.
The cost of a university education is something that stays with many students for decades, which is why I created the Student Survival Guide several years ago. Updated annually on my website, it helps students not get buried by a mountain of debt and expands on some of the information above. This year I have also written a guide explaining the new Student Loan Company Plan 5 loan system, and whether taking the loans is a good choice.
- To get your free copy of the Student Survival Guide go to warrenshute.com