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What Is A Student Loan?
By: John Mussi
Not everyone is aware of what is a student loan? Student loans, as the name
implies, are available to students who require help with living costs while
studying.
Student loans are part of the government's financial support package for degree
only students embarking on a course of higher education. For most students, a
student loan is their largest single source of income. So unless you have very
generous parents, you will need to apply.
Regardless of where you are studying, if you are from England and Wales you will
apply to your Local Education Authority using an HE1 form. They will then
calculate how much you're entitled to receiving – as well as working out whether
you need to pay tuition fees.
They will then send you back a form that you need to forward to the Student
Loans Company (the government organisation that administers your student loan)
who will process your application. This usually takes a month, so make sure you
get the paperwork done well in advance of the start of term.
Although it is only a loan, you'll never be able to borrow money more cheaply,
so it's the most cost-effective way of borrowing money while you're studying to
pay for all those bills. The interest charged is only equal to the rate of
inflation.
Unlike support towards tuition fees, you have to repay any loans. The Student
Loan is repaid after you graduate (or after you leave the course, should you
leave before completing). Repayments are calculated on a sliding scale and are
repaid monthly directly to the Student Loan Company.
Should your salary fall below £10,000 payments are suspended until you earn
above this figure again whereupon you will recommence payments. Interest on the
Student Loan is calculated at a preferential rate which is far lower than any
commercial bank loan rates.
Loans have the unfortunate tendency to mount up your debt. If you take the full
£4,000 a year for three years that means you'll be £12,000 in debt by the end of
your course – and if you're on a longer degree programme, that total could be
even higher.
About the Author:
John Mussi is the founder of Direct Online Loans who help UK homeowners find the
best available loans via the www.directonlineloans.co.uk website. |