Book excerpt: Parents and students alike are increasingly concerned about the rising cost of a university education and the burden of post-graduation debt. However, there are long-term strategies that can help to alleviate the situation, and there are many bursaries and allowances that go unclaimed every year. Paying for University is aimed at anyone who needs to know all the options when planning the funding of a university course. In addition to the obvious costs, what hidden expenses can be identified? What is the real impact of variable top-up fees? And how can extra funds be raised to pay for that hard-won university place? With detailed chapters on both costs and potential income, this accessible book is the ultimate road map for guiding readers through the financial jungle and identifying the sources of available funding