Higher Education student support for 2015 to 2016
Written ministerial statement by David Willetts announcing the student finance package for the 2015 to 2016 academic year.
I am today confirming the student support package for higher education students undertaking a course of study in the academic year beginning September 2015.
Tuition charges and loans
For all new full-time students and eligible continuing full-time students who started their courses on or after 1 September 2012, maximum tuition charges and maximum tuition loans will be maintained in 2015 to 2016 at the £6,000 and £9,000 levels which apply in 2014 to 2015.
For continuing full-time students who started their courses before September 2012, maximum tuition charges and maximum tuition loans will be maintained in 2015 to 2016 at the £3,465 level which applies in 2014 to 2015.
For all new part-time students in 2015 to 2016, and eligible continuing part-time students who started their courses on or after 1 September 2012, maximum tuition charges and maximum tuition loans will also be maintained at the £4,500 and £6,750 levels which apply in 2014 to 2015.
Maintenance Grant
The government announced in the 2013 Spending Review in June 2013 that the maximum Maintenance Grant for students attending full-time courses in 2015 to 2016 would be maintained at the same levels which apply in 2014 to 2015. This means for new students and eligible continuing students who started their courses on or after 1 September 2012, the maximum grant in 2015 to 2016 will remain at £3,387. For continuing students who started their courses before 1 September 2012, the maximum grant in 2015 to 2016 will remain at £3,110.
Loans for living costs
Eligible students attending full-time courses will be entitled to more overall support for their living costs in 2015 to 2016 than in 2014 to 2015. Maximum loans for living costs for new and continuing full-time students will be increased by forecast inflation for 2015 to 2016, 3.34%.
For new students and eligible continuing students who started attending their courses on or after 1 September 2012, who are living away from home and studying outside London, the maximum loan for living costs will be increased to £5,740. I can confirm that the equivalent loan rates for students living away from home and studying in London will be £8,009; for those living in the parental home during their studies, £4,565; and for those studying overseas as part of their UK course, £6,820.
For eligible full-time students who started attending their courses before 1 September 2012 and are living away from home while studying outside London, the maximum loan for living costs will be increased to £5,167. The equivalent loan rates for students living away from home and studying in London will be £7,230; for those living in the parental home during their studies, £4,005; and for those studying overseas as part of their UK course, £6,151.
Dependants’ grants
The government is committed to supporting students with caring responsibilities. I am therefore announcing today that means tested dependants’ grants for full-time students attending their courses will be increased by forecast inflation for 2015 to 2016.
The maximum Adult Dependants’ Grant will be increased by 3.34% to £2,757 in 2015 to 2016.
The maximum Childcare Grant payable in 2015 to 2016, which covers 85% of actual childcare costs, will be increased by 3.34% in 2015 to 2016 to £155.24 per week for 1 child only and to £266.15 per week for 2 or more children.
The maximum Parents’ Learning Allowance payable in 2015 to 2016 will be increased by 3.34% to £1,573.
Part-time grants and loans
For those students who started part-time and full-time distance learning courses before 1 September 2012 and who are continuing their courses in 2015 to 2016, maximum fee and course grants will be maintained at the levels that apply for 2014 to 2015. Maximum fee grants will be maintained at £1,285, depending on the intensity of study of the course. Maximum course grants will be maintained at £280.
Income thresholds
Household income thresholds for grants for tuition and living costs, and loans for living costs, will be maintained at 2014 to 2015 levels for 2015 to 2016.
Disabled Students’ Allowances
Lastly today, I can confirm that maximum grants for full-time, part-time and postgraduate students with disabilities will be maintained at 2014 to 2015 levels in 2015 to 2016.
Regulations
I expect to lay Regulations implementing changes to student support for 2015 to 2016 later this year. More details of the 2015 to 2016 student support package will be published by my department in due course.