How to pay for your child's university for £80 a month

Telegraph

12-03-2025

Many parents dream of seeing their child graduate from university. Sitting proudly in the audience, waiting for their son or daughter's turn on stage, and then watching them pick up a hard-earned degree is a moment they will savour for life.
But over the years, higher education has become very expensive – and it's still rising. Fees will hit £9,535 from the start of this academic year, a 3.1pc rise and the first since 2017.
When living costs like rent, bills and groceries are added for students living away from home, the cost of going to university for three years can hit nearly £57,000, according to advisors Brewin Dolphin.
Parents need to be savvy and forward-thinking to ensure they are ready to support their children's education.
New research shows that those starting early, and setting aside money each month using a Junior Isa (Jisa), might be able to grow the pot to send a child to university – and more.
Jisas were introduced in 2011 to replace child trust funds, and they're available for children under 18 who live in the UK. They're tax-free and you can pay in up to £9,000 a year. The child can take over the account when they turn 16, but the money can't be withdrawn until they turn 18, as they're designed to be long-term savings accounts.
Investment manager, Vanguard, has calculated that saving £80 a month into a Jisa from birth until a child turns 18 would generate just over £30,000 – enough to pay for three years of tuition fees.
For those who can save a little more, £175 a month would cover their tuition fees and living costs of £1,000 a month for the same period, with the pot reaching almost £67,000.
And those who put away the full Jisa contribution allowance of £9,000 each year could hand their child a pot of £300,000 on their 18th birthday.
Each scenario assumes an annual return of 6pc. As it's in a Jisa, everything is shielded from capital gains and income tax.
James Norton, of Vanguard, said: 'Our calculations demonstrate the benefits of investing little and often to save for a child's future. Jisas are great vehicles to invest in as there is no tax or profits made. The money is locked away until the child reaches 18, at which point they can withdraw the money or leave it invested in a stocks and shares Isa for example.'
There are two types of Jisa: cash, or stocks and shares. With cash Jisas, you will receive interest at a set rate. In stocks and shares Jisa, you make investments and keep any profits.
A child can have either type of account, or one of each. You can still only deposit £9,000 each year across both.
There are pros and cons to both. A cash Jisa is risk-free, but a stocks and shares Jisa could generate better returns – although it can also go down if your investments don't perform.
Mr Norton added: 'There are a few considerations to think about with stocks and shares Jisas. Firstly, the parent or guardian should think about the timeframe of the investment. If it's 18 years, with the purpose of funding further education, for example, a significant amount of risk could be taken to maximise the opportunity to grow wealth in the early years.
'However, as the child's 18th birthday approaches, it would be sensible to start reducing the risk to ensure large losses aren't made just as they need to withdraw the money.
'It's also important to think about the spread of investments within the Jisa. A wide spread covering the main stock markets is a smart way of ensuring you hold outperforming stocks, improving your chances of growing your child's nest egg.'
'Having that money felt precious to me'
Freya Taylor-Lester, 21, was born before Jisas were available, but she received a child trust fund. The Government made the first contribution and her mum helped build it up to £5,000.
She says this instilled the savings habit and enabled her both to travel and pursue her dream of becoming an actress by helping to pay her tuition fees at Arts Educational in Chiswick.
She said: 'My mum put money into the account every month. Over the years, it built up quite a bit and when I turned 18, I got access to it.
'I wanted to go to drama school. I used part of the money to fund my course because it's quite expensive. Very, very expensive in fact. It's quite insane how much drama schools cost to attend.
'I was working and kept adding to it. I did a couple of acting jobs and also worked the weekends and I would add all the money into that account.
'Obviously, I felt very lucky that I had that amount to start me off. Having that felt very precious to me and it helped me save for the next few years. It was like I wanted to keep that up, I didn't want to just spend it and it be gone.'
The pot also enabled her to take a trip to New York City with her course mates. She said: 'This was the first time I went anywhere without my family. It just felt like being an adult for the first time and like the world was at your fingertips.'
Since the government replaced child trust funds, Jisas have become popular. According to research from financial services provider OneFamily, a third of parents aged below 50 have opened a cash Jisa for their child and almost one in five have opened a stocks and shares Jisa.
Asked what they'd like their child to use their Jisa for, around a third said saving for a house and the same proportion said putting it towards the costs of university.
Jim Islam, of OneFamily, said: 'The power of long-term savings coupled with the importance of starting early can make a big difference to a young person's life. By investing over an 18-year period, even relatively small sums can have a huge impact by the time a young person enters adulthood.
'Savings accounts like Jisas and child trust funds offer a vital boost at a crucial time in their lives. Whether that's going into higher education, buying a car or putting it towards a property, these nest eggs can support a young person when they turn 18 and help the next generation build a bright future.'