How much financial backing d&#x27;you get from your parent/s at uni, do you get any all??

22

Getting a part-time job is quite common whilst at uni.

When I was young and originally at a brick uni, I had a part time job at a commercial estate agents whilst I was at uni. I had previously worked there full time during my gap year as well.
We sold fish and chip shops.

Reply 2

ErasistratusV

21

Worked like a madman in the summer holidays, I remember running out of cash about 2 weeks to the end of year 3 and ringing my dad for some cash in a panic as I was young and didn't understand the nature of debit or credit cards really back then. He put £300 into my account and I still had over £200 of it left when I jumped in my car and returned home ahead of the end of session ball two weeks later.

Reply 3

BCU Student Rep

Official Rep

18

Original post

by dooby_boss

just curious on how much uni students may get from their parents, or if you don't get any at all, and if you don't, how do you cope without it, do you survive off a part time job or something, please let me know

Hi @dooby_boss

Part time work is pretty common for most students. I manage to fit in one main 8 hour shift a week alongside my studies, and then I take on extra hours when I have more time, and this manages to cover my additional weekly spendings. Budgeting wisely can be really helpful to make your money go a bit further too.

I have also had some help from my parents, which I know isn't possible for everyone. Something I did find useful was to ask for more practical gifts for birthdays/Xmas - which might sound a bit boring - but it helps with my finances. For example, I have quite a lot of equipment for my course so I sometimes ask for new items for this. Or, family and friends have bought me gift vouchers for the cinema or my favourite shops to help with costs at uni.

There's some more budgeting tips here if you're interested: https://bit.ly/3xa86zy

Hope this helps. 🙂
Emily
Student Rep at BCU

Reply 4

22

Original post

by dooby_boss

just curious on how much uni students may get from their parents, or if you don't get any at all, and if you don't, how do you cope without it, do you survive off a part time job or something, please let me know

Parent sees it as a duty to make sure that I have a roof over my head; clothes on my back and food in my mouth, let’s start with that. As long as I’m not at home being lazy and doing nothing (no decent full-time job or education). So for British student standards, I’m probably privileged (and I won’t deny this), other countries standards where there’s a similar culture and duty? Maybe not so much.

So it probably depends on your parents/family and their culture along with whether they can realistically afford to help you out or not. The amount of maintenance loan you’ll get also plays a factor.

Many do have to get a part-time job however (I have one as well).

Reply 5

YSJstudents

Official Rep

15

Original post

by dooby_boss

just curious on how much uni students may get from their parents, or if you don't get any at all, and if you don't, how do you cope without it, do you survive off a part time job or something, please let me know

Hi,

This will vary massively from person to person. Personally, I fund myself through a part time job at uni and at home during the holidays. My parents will help me if I am struggling but I have managed the previous two and a half years with just my jobs.

Hope this helps! Faye 🙂

Reply 6

Little pecker

20

Your parents should be paying for everything - tuition fees, housing, materials, food, etc.

Reply 7

22

Original post

by Little pecker

Your parents should be paying for everything - tuition fees, housing, materials, food, etc.

I have to assume you're not serious.

Reply 8

22

Original post

by PinkMobilePhone

I have to assume you're not serious.

I mean they’re technically not wrong in that in theory that is what parents should be doing (at least they should be making up the difference between what the maximum maintenance loan is vs the amount of maintenance loan that their child will get).

The reality is however that many don’t bother or genuinely don’t have the funds to do so.

Reply 9

22

Original post

by Talkative Toad

I mean they’re technically not wrong in that in theory that is what parents should be doing (at least they should be making up the difference between what the maximum maintenance loan is vs the amount of maintenance loan that their child will get).
The reality is however that many don’t bother or genuinely don’t have the funds to do so.

University fees in this country compared to many other European countries are insanely high, and in recent years the cost of living has sky rocketed.

To say parents should be paying for everything is such a wildly privileged attitude, and absolutely not realistic for ordinary families.

Reply 10

22

Original post

by PinkMobilePhone

University fees in this country compared to many other European countries are insanely high, and in recent years the cost of living has sky rocketed.

To say parents should be paying for everything is such a wildly privileged attitude, and absolutely not realistic for ordinary families.

Well SFE doesn’t agree (when it comes to maintenance loans hence taking parental income into account when it comes to the assessment and parents being “expected” to make up the difference between the max loan and whatever loan their child will get). So the other user isn’t completely wrong even though in practice is unrealistic.

I think that maintenance loans (SFW seem to be better however) are the bigger issue. The system needs reforming and SFE ought to have a system similar to SFW (it looks like a much fairer system in my opinion).

Reply 11

ErasistratusV

21

The government should be paying Universities so no one has to pay tuition fees. I know that much.

Reply 12

meenu89

19

although I stayed at home, I also worked. I was lucky that family could help.
I have been able to pay back most what I borrowed from family as I have done well in my career

(edited 1 year ago)

Reply 13

22

Original post

by Talkative Toad

Well SFE doesn’t agree (when it comes to maintenance loans hence taking parental income into account when it comes to the assessment and parents being “expected” to make up the difference between the max loan and whatever loan their child will get). So the other user isn’t completely wrong even though in practice is unrealistic.
I think that maintenance loans (SFW seem to be better however) are the bigger issue. The system needs reforming and SFE ought to have a system similar to SFW (it looks like a much fairer system in my opinion).

The law is an ass.

Reply 14

22

Original post

by PinkMobilePhone

The law is an ass.

I’m not sure if it’s a “law” but SFE are crap in this context in my view.

Reply 15

Anonymous #1

Original post

by PinkMobilePhone

University fees in this country compared to many other European countries are insanely high, and in recent years the cost of living has sky rocketed.
To say parents should be paying for everything is such a wildly privileged attitude, and absolutely not realistic for ordinary families.

The comparison with other Western European Countries is so true: in France, fees for most undergraduate studies cost less than 500 euros per year. In Sweden, tuition fees are free for EU citizens, etc.

Reply 16

Little pecker

20

Original post

by PinkMobilePhone

I have to assume you're not serious.

Yes they should, obviously most can’t and that’s unfortunate.

On your next point saying ‘wildy privileged attitude’ is borderline insulting tbh, just because someone doesn’t agree with your perspective doesn’t mean something has to be wrong with them or they simply must have come from a particular background to have said belief.

In an ideal world it’s government funded, but it’s not an ultimately the child is the one left with the burden hence parent’s should prepare for it imo.

Reply 17

Laus2

10

Original post

by Little pecker

Your parents should be paying for everything - tuition fees, housing, materials, food, etc.

This is an insanely privileged response.

Reply 18

22

Original post

by Little pecker

Yes they should, obviously most can’t and that’s unfortunate.
On your next point saying ‘wildy privileged attitude’ is borderline insulting tbh, just because someone doesn’t agree with your perspective doesn’t mean something has to be wrong with them or they simply must have come from a particular background to have said belief.
In an ideal world it’s government funded, but it’s not an ultimately the child is the one left with the burden hence parent’s should prepare for it imo.

I stand by what I said. If you hold that belief, you have a wildly privileged attitude. If you are offended that I called you out on that, that's really a you problem.

Reply 19

iL1L