With degree fees reaching as high as £9,000 at some UK Universities, students are beginning to look at ways that they can make savings on the cost of higher education.
Some qualifications in the healthcare sector, such as Occupational Therapy or a 3-year diploma in Nursing, remain state funded and both graduates and non-graduates could find themselves getting a yearly bursary and may have even have their tuition fees waived.
Although these qualifications are not degree-level, some courses, such as the nursing diploma, can be upgraded to this level.
The army also offers degree funding for some courses. A non-graduate who enters ‘Sandhurst-The Royal Logistic Corps’ as an officer may be offered the opportunity to study for a technical degree at one of five reputable universities throughout the UK, all the while receiving pay as an officer and receiving funding for both tuition fees and expenses.
Studying in an area of England that has a lower cost of living may also help to reduce University debts. The North of England has traditionally been a place where graduates can make their funding stretch further, including popular student areas such as Sheffield or Manchester.
Shopping around for Universities that offer lower tuition fees could also prove a good move for budget-conscious undergraduates.
A list of 2012 tuition fees compiled by BBC News found cheaper university fees at Staffordshire University starting at £1,000 (rising to £8,000) and Brunel University which starts at £1,020 (rising to £9,000). This compares favourably against other universities such as Lancaster and Lincoln, which have a fixed fee of £9,000.
Studying at a University overseas can also be an excellent way to cut-back University costs. As an example, Dutch universities charge just over €1,700 a year for undergraduate courses, while tuition fees at most German institutions have been abolished. Even in those German states where fees still exist, the maximum is €1,000 a year.
In addition, most universities in Scandinavia don’t charge any fees and have a wide number of courses taught in English. At the University of Southern Denmark -situated in the country’s third city, Odense- tuition is free for EU nationals and there are nearly 40 courses taught in English.
Have you considered all the options available for cutting potential University costs? Would you value the chances of eventually securing a graduate job ahead of saving money while studying?