[WinterPassing]

Hi everyone! I have been reading the forum a long time and have posted a few questions and haven't seen too much about international students at universities on here...

I am very happy to say that I just received my acceptance to start my graduate program in the UK in September!

The university is and will be very helpful with obtaining my student visa but I do have a few questions about finances. I have read over the UKBA site for student visas and applying seems fairly simple but the hardest part is having funds to support myself for the entire year there. (My program runs September to September.)

I do have a boyfriend that lives in the UK, which is a partial reason I chose to apply to graduate programs there, so my main question is, can I use him as a sponsor since I do not have adequate funding to support myself? I will be living with him and he will be paying our rent, so I am not sure of what to do. (He is currently looking to move and change jobs to somewhere close to the university.) I do not want to chance getting denied my visa to study because of this. I have spent alot of time working towards and applying to schools and feel so honored to have been selected for this program and I can not wait to begin it.

So I guess to wrap it up and make it a bit simpler.. should I just make sure to have enough loans to cover myself and not have mention of him? :confused2:
It is not super clear on the UKBA site if I need to provide them with proof of housing.

Thanks for anyone who takes the time to read this and that has any helpful information! I am feeling completely overwhelmed and excited! And I would love to hear experiences from anyone who is an international student!

Thanks!

 

[andyb85]

Congrats on being accepted on the uni course.

With regards to having funds to support yourself, it can only be your own funds or your parents' in the form of savings.

I dont think UKBA will accept your boy friend as a finance support person for you.

As they needs at least 3 months bank statements showing that you/your parents have the funds needed, I'd suggest you prepare the funds now so you can apply for the visa in July, unless you have the funds ready.

 

[Rndebidee]

Hi everyone! I have been reading the forum a long time and have posted a few questions and haven't seen too much about international students at universities on here...

I am very happy to say that I just received my acceptance to start my graduate program in the UK in September!

The university is and will be very helpful with obtaining my student visa but I do have a few questions about finances. I have read over the UKBA site for student visas and applying seems fairly simple but the hardest part is having funds to support myself for the entire year there. (My program runs September to September.)

I do have a boyfriend that lives in the UK, which is a partial reason I chose to apply to graduate programs there, so my main question is, can I use him as a sponsor since I do not have adequate funding to support myself? I will be living with him and he will be paying our rent, so I am not sure of what to do. (He is currently looking to move and change jobs to somewhere close to the university.) I do not want to chance getting denied my visa to study because of this. I have spent alot of time working towards and applying to schools and feel so honored to have been selected for this program and I can not wait to begin it.

So I guess to wrap it up and make it a bit simpler.. should I just make sure to have enough loans to cover myself and not have mention of him? :confused2:
It is not super clear on the UKBA site if I need to provide them with proof of housing.

Thanks for anyone who takes the time to read this and that has any helpful information! I am feeling completely overwhelmed and excited! And I would love to hear experiences from anyone who is an international student!

Thanks!

Congratulation on getting your offer. We are from Vermont and my daughter is finishing up her 3rd year at St. Andrews University in Scotland. When she applied for her student visa we had a letter from the school stating what the tuition and room and board would cost. We then enclosed with the visa application a letter from our lender showing we had accepted a loan enough to cover both tuition and room and board, and she got her visa. As far as your boyfriend I don't see why he couldn't draw up a letter stating he is offering you room and board as well, although he may need to show that he has an extra room. If he only has a one bedroom flat I think that would draw suspicion that you are really only applying for uni to be with your boyfriend. I don't know enough about immigration and visas to advice you on that, so I would recommend definitely checking with Joppa regarding your living sitituation. Best of luck to you.

 

[WinterPassing]

Thank you both for your replies!

So if I have my parents show their savings when applying then I should be ok? I do plan on selling my car before I go but that will not be until August so I will not have the money until then.

Rndebidee - Did your daughter get a FAFSA to study in Scotland? I am wondering about anyones experience with them abroad, because it looks like that can only be used for tuition.

 

[etril]

Congrats! I'm headed to the UK in September for school as well.

About the FAFSA - as long as your school is an eligible institution (you can find their code under "foreign country"), you can get a loan for the full cost of attendance, which includes tuition, housing, food, etc. An administator at your school should be able to tell you how much that is and help you with paperwork. I'm currently working through that process. Good luck!

 

[WinterPassing]

Congrats! I'm headed to the UK in September for school as well.

About the FAFSA - as long as your school is an eligible institution (you can find their code under "foreign country"), you can get a loan for the full cost of attendance, which includes tuition, housing, food, etc. An administator at your school should be able to tell you how much that is and help you with paperwork. I'm currently working through that process. Good luck!

Thank you! Congrats to you as well! I think all of my research and reading and re-reading is making things start to go straight over my head, so thank you for helping to unscramble it!

 

[Rndebidee]

Thank you both for your replies!

So if I have my parents show their savings when applying then I should be ok? I do plan on selling my car before I go but that will not be until August so I will not have the money until then.

Rndebidee - Did your daughter get a FAFSA to study in Scotland? I am wondering about anyones experience with them abroad, because it looks like that can only be used for tuition.

Yes, she fills out the FAFSA every year. You can get the stafford subsidized and unsubsidized loans as well as parent or student loans. You will not qualified for any government grants like the Pell or SEOG grants,etc. The loans will cover all expenses associated with school which includes room and board, additional expenses as her school sent what the full cost of attendance would be which included up to 2 round trips home and additional miscellaneous expenses and if I wanted to I could of got the loan amounts to cover the full cost of attendance that the school submitted to the lending agent. As for the money, you will have to show you have the funds available either in the bank or through a loan or a combination of both. You will then need to provide these supporting documents when you apply for your student visa.
Good luck to you.

 

[WinterPassing]

Yes, she fills out the FAFSA every year. You can get the stafford subsidized and unsubsidized loans as well as parent or student loans. You will not qualified for any government grants like the Pell or SEOG grants,etc. The loans will cover all expenses associated with school which includes room and board, additional expenses as her school sent what the full cost of attendance would be which included up to 2 round trips home and additional miscellaneous expenses and if I wanted to I could of got the loan amounts to cover the full cost of attendance that the school submitted to the lending agent. As for the money, you will have to show you have the funds available either in the bank or through a loan or a combination of both. You will then need to provide these supporting documents when you apply for your student visa.
Good luck to you.

Thank you SO much! It is really great to have someone's help that knows what they are talking about! This puts me at ease a bit. :clap2:

One other question, I am not sure her university has this but I get a discount for paying tuition myself. My question is, would I technically not be paying because of the FAFSA ?And would that be considered "government sponsorship" or since it is a loan and not a grant, would I be paying? I am sure my school will iron out the technicalities but I am just trying to get a jump start on it, after all every penny counts!

 

[Rndebidee]

Thank you SO much! It is really great to have someone's help that knows what they are talking about! This puts me at ease a bit. :clap2:

One other question, I am not sure her university has this but I get a discount for paying tuition myself. My question is, would I technically not be paying because of the FAFSA ?And would that be considered "government sponsorship" or since it is a loan and not a grant, would I be paying? I am sure my school will iron out the technicalities but I am just trying to get a jump start on it, after all every penny counts!

Not really sure the answer regarding this question as my daughters school did not offer a discount on tuition. If you were relying on your parents savings only I would think that would fall under paying for tuition yourself. I think it would also depend on whether the loan was being disbursed to you or your parents instead of directly to the school. I know the first year my lending agent disbursed the money directly to me twice during the school year and I just charged each semesters fees for tuition and room & board to my credit card. I would definitely think that would qualify for the discount as you would be paying for it yourself (your still getting a loan but as far as the school is concerned they don't have to deal with the expense of setting up and processing overseas financial organizations loan documents and then waiting for their money). If you apply for the subsidized and unsubsidized stafford loans they are paid directly to the school, which honestly if you are relying on loans to help you out with school it makes the most sense as the payment is deferred until 6 months after you graduate and the government picks up the interest on your subsidized loans each year while you are still in school.

 

[WinterPassing]

Not really sure the answer regarding this question as my daughters school did not offer a discount on tuition. If you were relying on your parents savings only I would think that would fall under paying for tuition yourself. I think it would also depend on whether the loan was being disbursed to you or your parents instead of directly to the school. I know the first year my lending agent disbursed the money directly to me twice during the school year and I just charged each semesters fees for tuition and room & board to my credit card. I would definitely think that would qualify for the discount as you would be paying for it yourself (your still getting a loan but as far as the school is concerned they don't have to deal with the expense of setting up and processing overseas financial organizations loan documents and then waiting for their money). If you apply for the subsidized and unsubsidized stafford loans they are paid directly to the school, which honestly if you are relying on loans to help you out with school it makes the most sense as the payment is deferred until 6 months after you graduate and the government picks up the interest on your subsidized loans each year while you are still in school.

Thank you! I appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions. I definitely have a better understanding of the FAFSA now.