What is the rationale behind giving grants to poorer students?

Thankyou for the advice, I will be sure to take it on board next time I get pounced upon by childish socialists.

All i can say is that, if it wasn't for grants, i wouldn't be able to afford to attend university, especially not for the duration of my 6 year course and especially not in London.

I'd say that's a pretty convincing argument.

Perhaps you should have read what I said?

I even emboldened parts of it to make it clear, but clearly that isn't good enough for some. I completely suppose loans for any student who needs them for the full cost of living, tuition, other expenses. I do not see why some students, adults they are, should get money which they do not need to pay back.

At the age of 22 you are an adult. If you need financial support (which is reasonable) then you should be liable to pay it back, if you have the means, later in your life.

I also think there are a lot more people who are in tricky situations than is publicised. I mean, I have a single mother who earns a good teachers salary, and I am eligible for no grants. However it doesn't take into account the fact that she is trying to push 3 kids through university and at this point is just trying to get something put in the pension fund.

With that attitude, I'm afraid I feel it is my duty to inform you that if you ever get to university, you'll be eaten alive. Good luck

I've got an unconditional offer from Corpus, Cambridge to read law...

I know a number of students who without grants simply could not attend university. Students who come from lower income homes often receive nothing from their parents, and could not live without grants, as loans generally only just cover accommodation. For that simple reason, grants are absolutely vital.
I am of the opinion that some universities take bursaries a little far, though. For example, Leicester will give £3000 a year from 2012 to students from the lowest incomes. That, with a £3000 grant from the government, £3700 loan and £9000 tuition fee loan seems completely unnecessary and unfair to those from lower middle class families who would almost certainly receive nothing of the sort from their parents. £6000 a year that wouldn't have to be paid back and could be spent on anything...which student, after rent is paid, needs £6000 a year?!

The thing is, full financial support is not an option. The government do not lend that much money to students, simple as that.

If i was to take out the maximum loan (which i currently do) i still would not be able to afford to attend my course.

Don't worry, i'm paying back just as much (probably a lot more in fact) then you.

Like I said - good luck.

Well thank you for the kind words but, pray tell, why would I need your luck? It's hardly teeming with angry lower-classes there is it

Over 50% will have attended state schools. And I'm not sure why you're assuming that I'm 'lower-class'; is that simply because I'm not for the abolition of grants? I'm not entitled to any grants - just the standard maintainance loan.

But I still don't why parents' incomes should matter to the finances of a 22 year old adult. A huge number of people get loans later on in their life from their extended family to get together the money for deposits, etc. Unfortunately some people don't have the family which can do that for them, but nor does it mean it is the role of the state to provide that service.

I can't say a really agree that an extra £9k debt on top of the student debt should really have a difference to how your whole life pans out. The fact is that if you are that hard done in life you won't even get to pay back the normal loan, let alone £9k on top of that. The only people who would be paying back that £9k would be those who did well for themselves. If you have done well for yourself I don't see why you should have lived for free, and if you have been unfortunate then you don't pay it back anyway.

I also think there are a lot more people who are in tricky situations than is publicised. I mean, I have a single mother who earns a good teachers salary, and I am eligible for no grants. However it doesn't take into account the fact that she is trying to push 3 kids through university and at this point is just trying to get something put in the pension fund.

Speaking for myself, I prefer to be given a grant that gives me an equal opportunity to someone whose parents can help them, rather than being treated to an increased amount of loans to pay back because my parent couldn't help me.

I am not saying scrap grants and replace them with nothing. I am saying scrap grants and replace them with loans.
Everyone should have enough money. Everyone should pay the money they use back.

Not that it matters, but if you are paying back more than me then you must be borrowing more than me.
I am taking the full loan I am entitled to, but I am entitled to only slightly over the base maintainence loan, and no grants.