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Life Beyond Uni
Contents Introduction
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Student loan: What you need to know
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The world of work
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What else?
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Get advice!
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Message from the University’s Alumn Network
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Message from a Sussex graduate
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Welcome to the world after university! This booklet aims to highlight some of the changes that happen when you are no longer a student and gives practical tips on some common situations you might face. It can’t hope to cover all the circumstances of everyone leaving this year but should give you some useful info e.g. what happens about repaying that scary student loan, or where you can access practical and legal help/advice regarding problems you may have after you leave.
Please note that all reasonable attempts were made to ensure the information in this booklet was correct at the time of print (May 2013). However, circumstances do change and we are not responsible for errors/omissions – please check with the relevant authorities for the latest information. 4
What changes? • • • • • •
No more student discounts You become liable to pay council tax Hopefully you will be earning lots, but this means you will be paying tax If you earn enough you will have to start repaying your student loan debts The bank will change your student overdraft to a graduate overdraft Hopefully no more essay deadlines or exam stress! 5
Student loan: What you need to know... You can find out all about repaying your loan, how much you owe and set up an online account at www.studentloanrepayment.co.uk. Please note this information is relevant to repayments for those who started their degrees before September 2012. When do I start repaying?
The Student Loans Company (SLC) will write to you before repayment starts. You begin repaying from the start of the tax year ( 5 April) after you finish or leave your course ONLY if you’re earning over £15,000 for the year. You repay your loan at the rate of 9% of your income over £15,000. For example, if you’re earning £16,000 you would repay £7.50 per month. If you earn £25,000 you’d repay £75 per month. If you are working and paying tax your employer will deduct the payments at source via the tax system (but it’s a good idea to keep your payslips as evidence in case of any problems). If you are self- employed you will have to repay it through the selfassessment tax process.
How much interest do I pay?
This is charged daily and is linked to inflation; at the time of writing from 2012 – 2013 is 3.6% but check the SLC website or your student loan statements for the latest rate, as it can change through the year.
What if I will be working abroad- surely I don’t have to pay then?
If you will be working abroad obviously you won’t be able to repay the loan through the UK tax system so you have an obligation to tell the SLC your new details and provide details of your income. They will then calculate how much you should repay based on your income- it will be on the same basis as in the UK ( i.e. 9% of your earnings over a certain level) but the level at which you start repaying varies according to the country you’re in - to take account of cost of living etc. For example - if you are working in Poland you’ll have to start 6
repayments if you earn over the equivalent of £9000, but in Ireland or Switzerland you can earn up to £18,000 before you will have to begin repayment.
What if I don’t tell the Student Loans Company my details?
If your circumstances change e.g. you go abroad and don’t tell them, they can make penalty charges and ultimately demand the debt be repaid in full immediately.
What if I change jobs?
Your P45 will have a Y code on it, confirming that you have a student loan and indicating to your new employer they should make deductions. If you don’t have a P45 you have to fill in a P46 for your new employer, which will have a box on it asking you if you have a student loan.
What if at the start of the year I’m earning over £15,000 but get a job earning less, or only work for a few months?
You can get a refund of the payments you made earlier in the year, if at the end of the tax year you’ve earned less than £15,000. However, you have to wait until the tax office can confirm your annual earnings to the Student Loans Company and you have to request a refund- it won’t happen automatically. However, if you have paid more, you may want to leave it unless you need money desperately- paying off the loan quicker than you need to reduces the amount of interest you have to pay overall and you will pay off the debt quicker.
Is the loan ever written off?
Yes, in certain circumstances e.g. after 25 years from the April when you should have started repayments, on death or if you are permanently unfit to work due to disability.
What if I’m an EU student with a tuition fee loan?
If you stay and work in the UK, you’ll repay the loan through the UK tax system. However, if you’ll be abroad, or if you won’t be paying tax, then you need to make payments direct to the Student Loans Company. Repayments will be based on earnings and have to be paid in pounds sterling (unfortunately you will be responsible for any conversion charges). As with UK students who go abroad, if you fail to inform SLC, or don’t give them correct information they can impose penalty charges and ask for the loan to be repaid in one lump sum.
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The world of work If you have no job lined up...
Don’t forget that you can use the Careers and Employability Centre on campus or via email for three years after you graduate, see www.sussex.ac.uk/careers They offer job vacancies, events and careers advice. Now that you are no longer a full time student you can claim any benefits you are eligible for after your official leaving date (such as Jobseekers Allowance if you are looking for work and Housing Benefit for help with rent costs). You should apply as soon as possible as it’s very difficult to get benefits backdated without good reason. The government are introducing major changes to the welfare benefits system – for example : • •
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There is a limit on the amount of benefit you can claim if you are of working age ( from July 2013) Council Tax Benefit has been replaced by local schemes run by your local council- usually called council tax reduction or council tax support schemes – it’s likely that you will have to pay a contribution to your council tax, even if you’re able to claim help and are on a low income A new single benefit for working age people called Universal Credit will start to be introduced from October 2013 nationally, which will also cover help with your rent (currently paid through housing benefit)
General Tips : • If you have income or savings this may affect whether you can claim or how much you are entitled to • If you are married or co-habiting as a couple you may have to make a joint claim • It’s worth using benefits calculators online to work out what benefits you may be able to claim • If you have children or are a carer you should seek advice on your potential entitlement • If you can claim benefits you may also be able to get help towards your rent costs and council tax • Always get advice if you’re not sure what you can claim or your claim is refused How to claim: Jobseekers Allowance : contact your local Jobcentreplus office or ring 0800 055 6688 Help with rent costs & council tax: contact your local council
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If you work part time
If you work under 16 hours per week and your earnings are low enough you may still qualify for Jobseekers Allowance. Otherwise, you may still be eligible for certain benefits - for example, Housing Benefit (Local Housing Allowance) for help towards your rent and/or tax credits depending on your income and circumstances. You may also still qualify for some help to pay your Council Tax. See http://www.hmrc.gov.uk to check if you can get tax credits, including eligibility calculators, or call the Tax Credit Helpline on 0845 300 3900.
If you are sick or disabled
You may be able to claim sickness benefits - for example Employment Support Allowance (if you can’t work). If you have a long term health condition and have care or mobility needs you may be able to claim a new benefit called Personal Independence Payment. For more information and advice on how to claim see: http://www.gov.uk/employment-support-allowance http://www.gov.uk/disability-benefits-helpline
Do I need a contract?
Even if you have no written contract you will still have certain rights under UK law - for example, the right to a statement of terms and conditions, right to a payslip, to be paid at least the national minimum wage and get paid holiday. There’s also legislation outlawing harassment and various types of discrimination. If you have a written contract, check this, as it may give you more rights than the legal minimum.
Holiday pay/leave
You’ve been working hard all year and will really value your holiday time! Under UK law employers have to give full time employees 5.6 weeks paid holiday a year (this includes public holidays), but you may be entitled to more under your contract. If you’re part time leave is worked out in proportion to the number of days you work.
Maternity rights
Are very complicated! Please check these websites for information on rights and benefits: http://www.direct.gov.uk and http://www.workingfamilies.org.uk
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Dismissal/notice
If you have been working for your employer for between 1 month and 2 years you are entitled to at least 1 weeks notice by law but you may get more than this under your contract. You can be dismissed without any notice in cases of gross misconduct. If you want to leave your job, check your contract for the notice period you need to give – if there’s no contract then you must give 1 weeks notice if you’ve worked there more than 1 month.
3 is the magic number!
Remember that if you need to challenge your employer and take them to an employment tribunal to enforce your rights there are very strict deadlines- usually only 3 months from the date of the problem – so get advice as early as possible.
What about Facebook?
Social networking sites are really popular and many of you will have spent many happy hours surfing and avoiding essay deadlines! Once you’re at work especially in an office environment, check what the etiquette is about personal internet use - some employers don’t allow personal use at all, some only allow it at lunchtime, some monitor which sites you visit! Be careful what you say about your employer or lifestyle on internet sites/ forums which are in the public domain- there have been cases of people being dismissed for defaming their employers or exposing work practices on the internet. We know that some employers look at Facebook and other networking sites when recruiting candidates and this influences who they invite to interview. Check your privacy and review everything you have online on your pages and tagged on other people’s in light of being a graduate now.
If you’ll be self employed……
There are different tax and legal issues if you’re self employed. For example, you’ll need to register as self employed for tax purposes and do a self assessment tax return ( you get fined if you don’t return it by the deadline). If you’ll be employing other people you’ll need to find out about your responsibilities too.
For more advice on your employment rights see:
HMRC – http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/selfemployed Business Link –http://www.businesslink.gov.uk http://www.acas.org.uk or call 08457 47 47 47 http://www.worksmart.org.uk - jargon free with lots of FAQ’s
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What else? If you’re studying further
Hopefully you will have sorted out your funding for fees and living costs already, as most postgraduate degree courses (with exceptions such as teaching and social work) do not benefit from statutory funding like undergraduate courses. Deadlines for funding are early in the academic year preceding the September/October you want to start on your further degree, and funding is usually competitive. Check out whether the uni you are applying to offers scholarships - for example, if you are staying at Sussex you may be able to get the Alumni Study Award (£300 for full-time UK/ EU students, £150 for part-time UK/EU students and £1000 for full-time international students). Also see Further Study on the Careers and Employability Centre website: http://www.sussex.ac.uk/careers/careerchoices/ furtherstudy and http://www.prospects.ac.uk for funding information and opportunities for postgraduate study. University of Sussex funding is listed at: http://www.sussex. ac.uk/study/funding You could also try applying to various trusts and charities, but they all have different qualification criteria and you may have to make several applications for small amounts of money. Also, see Prospects http://www.prospects.ac.uk or http:// www.scholarship-search.org.uk for information on funding opportunities for postgraduate study.
Sussex Graduate Scholarships
The University has launched a prestigious new scholarship scheme for Sussex undergraduates. All Sussex students who achieve a first-class or upper second-class honours degree in 2013 and who are offered a full-time place on an eligible Masters course in 2013 will receive a scholarship worth up to £3,000 to help towards tuition fees. Students with a first-class degree will be eligible for a £3,000 award and students with an upper second-class degree will be eligible for a £2,000 award. Closing date 1 August. Find out more: http://www.sussex. ac.uk/study/sgs Chancellor’s Masters Scholarships The University has launched a prestigious new scholarship scheme for UK and EU students. We welcome applications from students who have achieved or expect to achieve a first-class honours degree from a UK university and who are offered a full-time place on a Masters course at Sussex. There are over 100 scholarships available, each worth £3,000 to help towards tuition fees. To find out more and to apply visit: http://www. sussex.ac.uk/study/cms 11
If you are going travelling…
Lucky you! There’s lots of websites and published books about travelling and gap years abroad etc – some things you may want to think about: • • •
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Inform the SLC if you’ll be abroad for over 3 months Make sure that you have a valid passport and have applied for relevant visas Take a copy of your passport, any tickets/ booking references , visas, insurance etc and leave them with someone reliable so they can be faxed through to you if the real ones are lost/ stolen Get all your jabs and dental treatments up to date before you go Don’t forget travel insurance and check out your coveryou may not be covered if you ride certain vehicles/ do extreme sports
See this website https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice for more tips and travel safe.
If you are moving in with your partner...
Be aware that living together doesn’t automatically give you any rights to your partner’s house or money! Check out this comprehensive website if you want to know about the implications of living together, such as claiming benefits as a couple: http://www.advicenow.org.uk/living-together
If you’re staying in a student house (but are no longer a full time student)…
Remember if you’re staying on in a student house where all or most of the others are still full time students you’ll be liable for the FULL council tax on the property (minus a single person discount if you’re the only non student). There’ll be no discount at all if there are 2 people or more living in the property who are liable to pay council tax. You could have a hefty bill and your student mates are under no obligation to help you out with the cost. Check out the council tax rates for your property on your local council’s website. Depending on your circumstances/ income you may be able to claim some help to pay for your Council Tax from the local council.
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You are an international student and want to stay on in the UK‌
If you are an international student from outside the EEA and wish to work in the United Kingdom on completion of your studies you will need to obtain a different type of Visa. There are five different types of Visas and this is known as the Points Based System (PBS). The Careers and Employability Centre regularly updates its information for international graduates here: http://www.sussex.ac.uk/careers/aboutus/ internationalstudents/ukaftergraduation You can find information about all of the schemes at http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/ working We recommend that you read the UKCISA guidance notes on working in the UK after your studies http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/ student/working_after.php for the latest detailed information. If you’re still a student at Sussex and have further questions please visit the International Student Support pages at http:// www.sussex.ac.uk/internationalsupport/working
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Get advice! We hope you find this info useful – please let us know if there’s more areas you feel would be helpful to be included. It’s impossible to cover every issue that may come up when you leave but the following websites offer good all round information and advice and are a good place to start if you have got a problem.
General
Direct.gov - http://www.direct.gov.uk. Government website with basic information about all subjects and links to more specialist information- good starting point Citizens Advice - http://www.adviceguide.org.uk. National advice charity who advise on anything and have a nationwide network of advice centres, useful factsheets etc Advice Now - http://www.advicenow.org.uk. Good comprehensive, jargon free website with advice and tips on most subject areas
More specialist advice
Housing advice Shelter – http://www.shelter.org.uk or call 0808 800 4444
Consumer (legal and tips) http://www.direct.gov.uk/consumer Citizens Advice call 08454 04 05 06
Consumer (tips and latest money saving offers) http://www.moneysavingexpert.com
Debt National Debtline – http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk or call 0808 808 4000
Employment http://www.worksmart.org.uk or call ACAS on 08457 47 47 47
Health and Welfare NHS Direct – http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk or call 0845 4647. Please be aware that the phone number will be changing to 111 which will be free from landlines and mobile phones. For more information visit the website. Samaritans – http://www.samaritans.org.uk or call 08457 90 90 90 (24/7)
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A message from The University of Sussex Alumni Network As you graduate, you’ll automatically become a member of the Sussex Alumni Network, joining over 120,000 alumni (former students) from all over the world. To help you we provide: • • • • •
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Three years of career support through the Careers and Employability Centre An alumni LinkedIn group, where you can meet and network with other alumni Regular reunion and networking events around the world Alumni Study Awards if you return to study at Sussex Access to the Graduate Extra card through the Students’ Union, with nationwide discounts for all your favourite high-street stores Discounts across campus, including Sussexsport and library memberships Volunteer opportunities to involve you in University life, wherever you live An annual alumni magazine, Falmer Regular email newsletters An alumni Facebook page to keep you in touch with your Sussex friends
For more details: http://www.sussex.ac.uk/alumni http://www.facebook.com/sussexalumni http://uk.linkedin.com/in/sussexalumninetwork
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A message from a Sussex graduate… “I am really glad that I chose to study at Sussex Uni. I enjoyed my course, met some great people and had a lot of fun. I have some really fond memories from my time at Sussex, especially the year I lived on campus. I was nervous about graduating and having to leave the student life I was used to but soon realised that the “real world” isn’t that scary. The life skills I learnt while at uni allowed me to find a nice place to live and a job I enjoyed. I really valued the freedom from being in an educational setting and to be able to make my own decisions around what I wanted to do and how I wanted to spend my time and money. No more essay writing or exams! I am still in contact with my uni friends and we regularly organise reunions to catch up and see what’s going on in each other’s lives, which is really interesting and we always have a good laugh!” Natalie (2003 - 2006)
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