Higher Education Policy Changes in England - AY 2018/19
Published 29 October 2019
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2019
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/higher-education-policy-changes-in-england/higher-education-policy-changes-in-england-ay-201819
1. Key changes in 2018/19
1.1 Full Time Tuition Fee Loans
No changes from 2017/18. Eligible English domiciled students and EU domiciled students (studying in England) who started full time courses on or after 1 September 2012 at public providers are subject to a maximum tuition fee of £9,250, and can borrow up to this amount in the form of a tuition fee loan.
1.2 Full Time Maintenance Loans
Maximum loans for living costs for new and continuing full time students who started their courses on or after 1 August 2018 have been increased by forecast inflation, 3.2%. The maximum loan for living costs for students living away from home and studying outside London was increased to £8,700, for students living away from home and studying in London to £11,354 and for students living at home to £7,324.
1.3 Disabled Students’ Allowance
For full time undergraduate students, the Non-Medical Helper Allowance has been maintained at £21,987, the Specialist Equipment Allowance at £5,529, the allowance for other disability related expenditure at £1,847.
For part time undergraduate students, the Non-Medical Helper Allowance has been maintained at £16,489, the Specialist Equipment Allowance at £5,529 and the allowance for other disability related expenditure at £1,385.
The maximum Disabled Students Allowances (DSAs) for postgraduate courses will be increased by forecast inflation (3.2%) to £10,993 in 2018/19.
1.4 Postgraduate Masters
Maximum loans for new students starting postgraduate master’s courses in 2018/19 will be increased by forecast inflation (3.2%) to £10,609 in 2018/19.
1.5 Postgraduate Doctoral
Students can borrow up to £25,000 during their postgraduate Doctoral course. The total amount they borrow will be paid evenly over the length of their course. For example, if they apply for the maximum amount of Postgraduate Doctoral Loan and study over four years, they’ll get £6,250 in each year of their course. Students can apply for a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan amount in any year of their course, but they might not get the maximum loan amount if they apply after their first year.
1.6 Part Time Maintenance Loan
New part time students starting a course on or after 1 August 2018 will be eligible for a Maintenance Loan. Whilst income assessed, the loan is also adjusted by the students’ intensity of study.
Part time education can be studied at a range of different intensities – where a student studies a certain percentage of the full time equivalent (FTE) course. The intensity of study will be based on the number of credits that the student intends to complete in a given academic year. Payments are made on a banded basis.
The minimum intensity of study in an academic year for part time funding for fee loans, loans for living costs and DSAs is 25%. Students will be supported for no more than four times the length of a full time equivalent course, capped at 16-years maximum.
Based on 100% intensity of study, the maximum loan for living costs for part time students living away from home and studying outside London was increased to £8,700, for students living away from home and studying in London to £11,354 and for students living at home to £7,324.
2. Further Information
Further information on student loans policies can be found on the Student Finance England practitioners website.