The cost of University How much will you repay? Tuition fees first introduced in the UK in 1998

Check gov.uk for the latest information KEY POINTS Amounts you repay change on 6 April every year. You stop paying if your income drops below the threshold The earliest you start repaying is when your income is over £480 a week or £2,083 a month (before tax and other deductions) -- first April after you leave your course Note always check gov.uk for the latest figures and interest rates

You need to pay back: Tuition Fee Loans Maintenance Loans You do not need to pay back other student finance, for example grants and bursaries, unless you’ve been paid too much. You still have to repay your student loan if you leave your course early.

Note all figures are rounded up/down £ When you DO NOT PAY If you earn less than £24996* =£480 week or =£2083 National Minimum Wage £7.83 week x 37 hr = £289 or £15064 per annum Note all figures are rounded up/down £

Example 1 Paid Weekly NOTE Income £600 Minus THRESHOLD £480 Difference £120 You pay 9% of £120 = £ 10 Your wage £600 minus £ 10 YOU HAVE £590 You still have TAX and NI to pay

Example 2 Paid Monthly NOTE Income £2400 Minus THRESHOLD £2083 Difference £317 You pay 9% of £317 = £ 28 Your wage £2400 minus £ 28 YOU HAVE £2372 You still have TAX and NI to pay

Current interest rates Your annual income Interest rate £25,000 or less RPI (currently 3.3%) £25,000 to £45,000 RPI (currently 3.3%), plus up to 3% Over £45,000 RPI (currently 3.3%), plus 3%

Your repayments will be taken out of your salary at the same time as tax and National Insurance if you’re an employee. Your payslips will show how much has been deducted. NB keep your payslips

Other factors to consider Value for money – number of taught hours League Tables (with caution) Employability / destinations /graduate prospects Job prospects in the job sector Average salaries What other jobs do people do with this degree YOU ARE THE CUSTOMER

Value for money What do you get for your money? Number of taught hours Any financial support from the University – specific courses / your personal circumstances etc. What is the average degree awarded – many jobs require 2.1 City, small town or campus – living costs – chance of getting a part time job Cost of travel to your home

Employability / destinations /graduate prospects Salaries – National Careers Service https://luminate.prosp ects.ac.uk/what-do- graduates-do https://www.hecsu.ac. uk/assets/assets/docu ments/What_do_gradu ates_do_2017(1).pdf

Student Voice – best value courses TheKnowledgeAcademy.com has analysed the latest findings from Higher Education Policy Institute, who surveyed 14,046 full-time students to discover which university subjects/courses have the best ‘value for money’. https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/worklife/campus/a23449601/best-university-courses-value-for-money/

Other jobs with this degree Business What can I do with ……..? Many businesses recruit graduates from any discipline Main sites Prospects.ac.uk Kent.ac.uk Professional body

NOW The final decision is YOURS