Making Cents Of Uni Costs

Illawarra Mercury

Saturday March 29, 2008

By KATELIN McINERNEY

THE financial strain a tertiary education puts on the hip pockets of Australian parents and students is well documented, but a new online calculator is set to reveal the real extent of the pain.

The Australian Scholarships Group (ASG) developed the unique online tool to calculate the estimated costs that new students (many with the help of their parents) face in order to gain their university qualifications.

The University Costs Calculator compares the costs for a student living at home with their parents, with the costs for those living away from home.

The ASG hopes the calculator will help parents plan for their children's future and assist new university students to budget more accurately for their annual costs while studying.

A total of 77 possible career paths can be profiled through the calculator, which can also factor in four living options including living at home with parents, living in the halls of residence, independent shared living, and boarding with families through programs such as Homestay.

The calculator's simple online interface allows parents or students to select a state or national average, enter the student's birth date or university start date details, then select a career path and living option to determine the present and future costs of attending university.

© 2008 Illawarra Mercury

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