How to pay for a university education

Been looking around on the A-level or similar programs for my eldest son. The fee is not cheap, about RM50,000 per year for a good college in Dubai. Thinking to enrol him in Malaysia or UK. And later to enrol for his engineering course in Canada (he has chosen Toronto).

He will be sitting for IGCSE this June, already has 2As and five more to go. Expected to get all As by his current performance by his teachers.

Sending your children to university is about to get even more expensive. Here are some ways to help fund their studies.

By Emma Simon
Last Updated: 10:45AM GMT 23 Mar 2009

University can be expensive, as these students at a demonstration point out Photo: PA

Education costs used to be a headache for just a small minority of parents whose children did not attend state schools but, now that nearly half of all teenagers attend university, many more families must do their homework to avoid offspring graduating with degrees of debt.

• The help you can get from grants and loans

Soon those debts could rise exponentially. At present universities can charge up to £3,125 a year in tuition fees and this will rise to £3,225 next academic year. But this limit is currently under review. Universities are pushing for a significant increase, which could see these fees more than double.

Under one plan suggested last week, fees would rise to £7,000 a year – with students offered a loan at the end of their course to pay off these costs. Meanwhile, a report issued by the vice-chancellors' umbrella group, Universities UK, claims that a £5,000-a-year tuition fee would not discourage those entering higher education.

Tuition fees are, of course, only part of the problem: there are also living costs; for example – rent, food, books and drinks in the union bar. The National Union of Students estimates current living costs to be £9,500 a year. This adds up to £13,000 a year, per child per year at university. On a three-year course, parents could be paying almost £40,000.

And if fees double and living costs rise, this could easily top £60,000 in a couple of years.

HERE

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• The help you can get from grants and loans

• Universities should be free to charge US-style £20,000 tuition fees, report says

• Middle-class parents should pay more to send children to university, says Lord Patten

• Students 'graduating from university with poorly paid jobs'

• University tuition fees 'need to rise to £6,500'

• University: How will you pay for it all?

UMNO politicians' calling cards

The Umno election campaign has taken the ordinary calling card to a new creative level. Not only are they colourful and in various shapes and designs, they also carry the candidates’ photographs, contact numbers and most important of all, their ballot numbers.

That excludes the MONEY part...which could come in different values for different worth of the votes....

Really, it’s all in the calling cards

PETALING JAYA: The Umno election campaign has taken the ordinary calling card to a new creative level.

Not only are they colourful and in various shapes and designs, they also carry the candidates’ photographs, contact numbers and most important of all, their ballot numbers.

For example, vice-president candidate Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s ballot number “1” looks good next to his grinning face.

Pasir Salak MP Datuk Tajuddin Rahman’s card banks on his reputation as a vocal parliamentarian with a picture of him giving a speech. It carries a slogan Berani bersuara demi perjuangan (Dare to speak up for the struggle).

The ladies are not far behind. They have gone to great lengths to look good on their cards, made much easier in this digital age.

Hence, Wanita Umno candidate Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil and supreme council candidate Raja Datuk Ropiaah Raja Abdullah look years younger on their cards.

Pendang Wanita chief Suraya Yaakob, who is making her debut bid for a Wanita exco seat, has the longest card.

It would be considered unlucky among the Chinese, but Datuk Dr Norraesah Mohamad is proud to be No “44” because “4” is a fortunate number among Muslims.

But the card that really stands out is that of supreme council candidate Datuk Noh Omar who is pictured speaking into his handphone and reminds many of a famous ustaz who offers massage services.