Hi there
I've been helping my younger cousin explore her options for university with a Sept 2024 start and shes really concerned about being able to support herself financially. Reading is one of her top choices but the further away from where she lives. It's a 2-3 hour train ride so she'd be looking at living on campus really.
She wants to do teaching with QTS.
She doesn't live in a particularly well off area so I did check to see what polar quintile she is in to scout out any bursaries as I spotted one on your website for UK students, but she is in PQ3 - PQ2 is like across the road from her - mad how it works sometimes....
It's also problematic when it comes to her student finance maintenance loan and grant. As with most households these days, your household income isn't away directly relevant. In her case, her mums new partner now lives with them but does not contribute towards 'her' kids as he has his own x2. They keep finances very separate as he is not yet divorced from his previous wife. So although my cousins mum supports her financially exclusively, the household income is taken into account so she can't maximise the maintenance side of SFE.
My cousin currently works, and intends to continue to work part time with the same company through her studies so that's really positive. And I've talked her though the student bank accounts with the overdrafts and when they'd need paying back and so on. So a few questions please ...
1. Is there anything the university is currently doing to help those struggling financially to get to your Autumn open days?
2. Does the university have any helpful budgeting tools or blogs?
3. Do you think there are any funds she might be able to tap into when at uni? I too supported myself through uni and I remember when I couldn't afford the bus one day, my tutor accessed a hardship fund for me. Anything similar like this at Reading?
4. Plus any other initiatives or relevant advice you have been giving future students and their parents, perhaps around accommodation etc would be much appreciated.
I'm going to sit with her this weekend and go through her expected monthly budgets and try turn this dream into a reality for her. Thanks in advance for any advice and quick links to helpful bits!