Higher Education Policy Changes in England - AY 1998/99
Published 29 October 2019
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2019
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1. Key elements of the student support arrangements introduced in 1998/99
1.1 Student support arrangement
New students in 1998/99 received support for maintenance through means-tested grants (comprising about a quarter of the support available) and non income-assessed student loans (comprising about three quarters of the support available). New students from 1999/00, and those who were subject to the new arrangements in 1998/99, received support for living costs mainly through loans which were partly income-assessed. The loans made under these arrangements are repayable on an income contingent basis.
1.2 Repayment
Repayment of student loans is linked to income after leaving university or college, so that leavers only repay as and when they can afford to. Repayments are at the rate of 9% of income above the income threshold (which was £10,000 up until April 2005, when it increased to £15,000). The threshold increased in line with RPI on 6 April 2012 to £15,795, and then to £16,365 on 6 April 2013.
2. Further Information
Further information on student loans policies can be found on the Student Finance England practitioners website.