Quote Originally Posted by Sir Moody View Post
maybe so but it isn't Free and claiming so is simply muddying the water - you pay your fees with a loan and then you pay back the loan - my Fathers University days were free - ours are not

and as to grants - its ~£2000 and only for the poorest of students - they will still need the loan to pay the fees themselves since the grant is just maintenance (i.e. living costs) and I don't know if you noticed £2000 doesn't go far these days - that would probably pay my Brothers rent for a year leaving him the maintenance loan to "live" off

one side note - how are you expected to default on the loan? the only way that could happen is if you never earn over the threshold - the loan doesn't go anywhere - if you don't earn over the threshold it simply gets bigger every year thanks to the interest - I know some countries with student loans have an end date (any remaining debts after that date are cancelled) but im pretty sure ours don't
Just declare bankruptcy - no loan, or wait 25 years to earn actual money. That's not so hard in this degree-drenched economy.

Sure, you're bankrupt but most graduates have abysmal credit histories anyway.

Lets be clear about this, nothing is "free", the NHS is paid for by taxes.

The only question is how you are taxed - the UK system offsets the cost and you pay it back to the government after you are earning.

I am insulted by your fixation of the arithmatic - your parents had to pay a larger proportion of your education than they will your brother's because he will pay back more of what he is given.