5th January 2007, 03:11 PM
Can't speak about the UK system as I am far too old to have been troubled by student loans, but advise any UK student contemplating taking out a loan to enquire into the student loan situation in Sweden and Norway. It is not uncommon for students in Norway for example to end up in the region of 300,000 kroner in debt at the end of their studies (circa 25000 pounds)!!
My Norwegian father in law (who chose to become a geologist, rather than an archaeologist, as he figured there was more money in geology) was still paying off his student loan well into his fifties. And that was just as a result of undergraduate studies, as early onset family stopped his post-graduate studies at the outset. My Norwegian wife has just finished (in her mid 30's) paying off the interest on her student loan and has just started reducing the capital amount.
My Norwegian father in law (who chose to become a geologist, rather than an archaeologist, as he figured there was more money in geology) was still paying off his student loan well into his fifties. And that was just as a result of undergraduate studies, as early onset family stopped his post-graduate studies at the outset. My Norwegian wife has just finished (in her mid 30's) paying off the interest on her student loan and has just started reducing the capital amount.