More funding for English students

Students from England will this year be entitled to more Government funding to help cover the rising costs of living.

Higher Education Minister, Bill Rammell has announced that the number of freshers from England eligible for maintenance grants have been extended to cover those with a household income of up to £60,000.

Previously, students from England were only eligible for maintenance grants if their family income was lower than £38,000.

These reforms will see two thirds of full-time students in England receiving a maintenance grant by 2011; an increase of 100,000 in the number of students receiving a partial maintenance grant, and an increase of 50,000 receiving the maximum amount.

Speaking to the House of Commons, Rammell said: “For new entrants to full-time higher education in 2008/09 we have increased the means-testing threshold below which students are entitled to a full maintenance grant up from £17,910 for entrants in 2007/08 to £25,000.

“The threshold for a partial grant will increase from £38,330 for entrants in 2007/08 to £60,005. These thresholds relate to household income.

“This will mean that one third of all eligible students in England entering higher education In the academic year 2008/09 are expected to be entitled to a full non-repayable grant worth £2,835 and another one third are expected to be entitled to a partial grant of between £50 and £2,835.

“Due to these reforms, by 2011, the number of students receiving some level of grant will increase by around 100,000. As part of this change, an extra 50,000 students will receive a full grant.”

The Welsh Assembly is also considering revising student funding for students from Wales to match England for the academic year beginning in 2009.

Despite increasing the funds available to full-time students, Rammell has faced criticism from the National Union of Students (NUS) owing to the fact that whereas full time students do not have to pay back tuition fees until they are earning over £15,000 per year, part time students must pay their fees upfront.

Wes Streeting, President of the NUS said: “It's critically important that the government revisits part-time students who have been shamefully overlooked."