Hi Camlotte31b, 

I'm really sorry to hear about your husband and on behalf of the Cancer Chat team I wanted to offer you our sincerest condolences on his passing.

I've had a look around and have found that Macmillan have a lot of useful information and advice regarding financial matters like yours as you can see from this article on their website. They have financial advisers you can speak to as well so it may be worth giving them a call when you can on 0808 800 0000 to see what other help they can offer you.

I hope this helps Camlotte and that you are able to find the funds you need to help your daughter go to university.

Kind regards, 

Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator

Hi Camlotte31b

I'm really sorry to hear about the loss of your husband and the inevitable financial strain this has put on the family. 

Before I retired I was a university lecturer, so I know in general terms how the student loan system works.

The headlines that everyone needs to know about the system are:

- Nearly all students take a loan to pay for tuition and living expenses. The loan will cover tuition completely, and pay an amount for living expenses, etc. The amount you can borrow for living expenses is around £7000 if living at home, or more if living away from home. 

- No one pays back a penny until they earn a minimum amount (around £21000 per annum, or weekly/monthly equivalent), with the pay back amount depending upon what is earned, rather than the outstanding amount of the debt. If your earnings fall below that amount then repayments stop until you start earning above this amount. Repayments are deducted by employers as part of the PAYE system.

- You can opt to pay off the debt more quickly by making extra payments. 

- If the loan hasn't been paid off after a certain number of years (currently 30 years), the outstanding amount is written off and the remaining debt forgiven. 

Although this is not as good as getting free fees and a maintenance grant, it does mean that anybody can afford to go university, even without any extra parental support. The debt doesn't hang over one's head forever; for most students it gets to be cancelled when they're in their early 50s.

I hope this reassures you that your daughter will be able to go to university, even though money is tight. It is precisely those students that the system is designed to help and support. 

I hope this reassures you that your daughter will be able to afford to study at university.