Student Loans Consolidation Program

Archive for May, 2011

  

Practically 99% of the students in the UK have got online student loan finance from DirectGov. 

 

 

They offer a maximum student tuition fee loan of £3,225 and a maximum student maintenance loan of about £3500.

 

Seems like the obvious way to go right? After the fiasco that happened this year, people aren’t so sure anymore.

 

If it is possible for you to get a grant through the government, through low income/disability etc, then stop reading and get to DirectGov! A free £2996 a year is worth maybe waiting a couple of extra months or so for!

 

Everyone else, carry on reading.

 

If it’s affordable and you are unsure about getting online student loan finance from the Government, you could always borrow the money off your parents. You wont have to worry about late student loan payments coming through each couple of months as well, either to pay off the university or your student accommodation. Also, most student accommodations give some sort of discount (e.g. 5%) for students that pay for the whole year instead of quarterly… That’s about £250 saved!

 

If you decide to go it alone for your first year, but then panic that you won’t be able to get student finance in the future if needed, don’t worry! Getting online student loan finance from the government is just as easy in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th year etc as it is in the 1st year.

 

Just as a heads up: After what has happened this year with the government student loans being delayed etc, I am pretty confident that the major UK banks will start offering online student loan finance for the next academic year soon..

 

Check back for a comprehensive guide here once all the major banks announce they are diversifying into online student loan finance! 

 

 

Federal student loans offer students in the U.S. the largest source of need-based loans. They allow students to obtain a loan with simple interest and a government guarantee. In applying for such loans, students do not need to have any type of collateral.

The big plus of all federal student loans, is the promise of an in-school interest subsidy. That means that the federal government pays the interest on the loan while the student is still in school. The government also pays that interest during the first six months after the loan recipient is out of school.

The Types of Federal Student Loans

Students should understand that there are number of different federal student loans. Some students get a Perkins Loan. When a student is awarded a Perkins Loan, then his or her chosen school gets the loan money. The school then transfers that money to the student’s account in the form of a credit. Perkins loans have an interest rate of 5%.

Some students are awarded a Stafford Loan. This is a subsidized loan. The Stafford Loan comes (at the time of writing), with an interest rate of 6.8%. The student awarded a Stafford Loan can choose the bank that will be lending the money for that loan. The lender then sends that money to the student’s school. Again the school transfers that money to the student’s account in the form of a credit.

Direct Student Loans and Loan Information

Some federal loans are direct loans. When a student gets a direct loan, then the government is the lender of the loan money.

These loans can be given to citizens or to permanent residents. At one time, some of the students awarded federal loans still lacked a full understanding of the loan process in the U.S. And at that time, about 25 years ago, students of course could not look to the Internet for information on federal student loans.

Without easy access to information, some students lacked an understanding of the loan provisions, and failed to get the best loan to suit them.

Interest Reduction on Federal Student Loans

Some students who have benefited from these loans have had the opportunity to get an interest reduction. That reduction is given to loan recipients who have chosen to use a direct debit to make payments on the loan. The extent of that reduction depends on the level of education attained by the student.

Federal student loans for undergraduates typically offer a 1% interest rate reduction for agreement to direct debit and for graduate students they usually provide a 1.5% rate reduction to any such loan recipient who is willing to make payments by direct debit.

 

Student loans consolidation is when one loan is taken out to pay off many others.

 

You basically combine all your private student loans into one manageable loan. 

By getting student loans consolidation, you may save money in several ways. If your credit rating has improved while you have been at university, you may be able to find a better interest rate, or lower your monthly repayments by extending the repayment period.

  

Read my tips below on student loans consolidation to see if it’s the right thing for you to do.

 

Student Loans Consolidation tip #1

Figure out all the monthly repayments you are currently paying, as well as the interest rates and whether they are variable or fixed. If your interest rates are variable, I would recommend asking for a fixed interest rate when you consolidate your student loan, so the rates won’t rise if rates increase.

 

Student Loans Consolidation tip #2

Make sure your credit history is good by checking Experian. A free credit report can be requested once a year, and they do a 30 day free trial for new customers. If your credit rate is good, your interest rates should be a lot smaller! Easy!

 

Student Loans Consolidation tip #3

Contact local banks to see if your total private student loan debt is over the minimum they require to consolidate, and compare them against each other. If you are looking to lower your monthly repayments, see how many years could be added on when consolidating, as you could end up paying more overall if you have a poor credit rating (but you shouldn’t).

 

Student Loans Consolidation tip #4

Once your consolidated student loan is approved, you can save more money on interest by paying extra each month if it is possible. The additional amount will go directly toward your principal, decreasing the amount of interest that you’ll owe, and the number of years that you will have to repay your consolidated student loan for.

 

Decided that it’s the right thing for you to do?

 

Get out there and and get your student loans consolidation now!

 

Orginal article was published here.