Should I just go for the cheapest option?
On the one hand, the full tuition fees of £3,145 a year will whack on a hefty lump of debt, to be paid back after graduation. Lower or no fees will mean less debt.
However, going to university these days means that, for all but the very rich or the very lucky, getting into a shedload of debt is a matter of course. There are ways to keep spending to a minimum, but tuition fees are one area where it’s really not worth scrimping. Not just because there are so few courses going on the cheap, but also because getting on to the right course will have a huge impact on how much you do or don’t enjoy university.
If the course you want to study has lower tuition fees, that’s brilliant and Push is very pleased for you. But if it’s a choice between paying more for your dream course or slightly less for something that – to you at least – is a second-rate option, think long and hard about whether any saving is really worth it. Far better to take on a bigger debt in order to study something which really floats your boat, than sink nearly as deep into the red for a course that just doesn’t get your juices flowing. As a graduate, in the long term, paying back the debt shouldn't be a problem. Even when you start paying the fees back (once you're earning over £15,000) the amount that comes out your paypacket is a dot.
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Last updated on: 13 August 2008