| The UK used to have an excellent 'free' education | | | | may also offer Student Loans against your living costs |
| system, on the premise that education its citizens | | | | while you are at college. See for a list of LEA |
| made the whole country wealthier. That has now | | | | contacts. |
| changed, and student loans are the norm, as in the | | | | Extra Allowances. You may be entitled to a Disabled |
| USA. This, of course, means that the majority of | | | | Student Allowance (DSA) which does NOT have to |
| students leave University with a gigantic financial | | | | be repaid, and is intended to offset some of the |
| millstone around their necks. Is there anything they can | | | | additional costs you suffer because of your disability. |
| do about this? In the first place, let's see if we can | | | | Ask your LEA if you suffer from a recognized |
| reduce the amount of debt we run up during the | | | | disability. |
| course. | | | | Got Kids? You are probably entitled to a Child Care |
| With an average debt of about £11K (over $20,000 | | | | Grant. Once again, consult your LEA. The principle is |
| USD!), the average graduate leaves higher education | | | | that you shouldn't be 'penalized' because you have |
| more indebted than their parents. There are some | | | | children. If you are a single parent, you may even be |
| additional funding sources that may be able to help | | | | able to get a 'Lone Parent' grant, which compensates |
| some students, and prevent them incurring such | | | | you for being on your own with children as a student. |
| enormous debt in the first place. You 'Local Education | | | | Come from a broken home? Try for a Care Leavers |
| authority' (LEA) may offer means tested help towards | | | | Grant. If you have no parents to stay with in the |
| tuition fees. The means test examines your income | | | | summer holidays, you may be able to claim up to |
| and that of your parents unless you are classed as an | | | | £100 a week towards accommodation costs. Ask |
| 'independent student'. Apply to the LEA where you | | | | your LEA! |
| intend to live before the course starts. Some LEA's | | | | |