All it took was a big red sofa to ease the concerns of future university students at London schools and colleges in November, as Middlesex University encouraged youngsters to find out more about student finance before undertaking courses such as Human Resource Management (http://www.mdx.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/human_resource_management/index.aspx).
As part of National Student Finance Week (November 14th to 18th), Middlesex University expert advisors sat down with students to give them plenty of advice on funding their own place at university. The aforementioned couch went on tour to surrounding institutions such as Woodhouse College, Haringey Sixth Form Centre and Alexandra Park School.
Middlesex was keen to underline how students do not start paying back their student loan until they earn £21,000, instead of £15,000 under old rules. Furthermore, average repayments will be less, too; someone earning £25,000 only has to repay £30 a month instead of £50 or more.
Cherece John, a Woodhouse College student from Tottenham who took part in the scheme, said: “Sitting on the red sofa has helped me understand more about university finance – I thought you would have to pay up front, but I now realise the terms aren’t as bad as I feared.”