Changes to the Education (Student Support) regulations

The Government has announced changes to the eligibility for grants and loans for intending higher education students from 2009-2010.

The aim of the changes is to reduce the cost pressure caused by higher than expected numbers although student numbers will be allowed to rise by 10,000. Existing students will be unaffected.

For those on low incomes, the threshold for a full grant of £2,906 will remain at £25,000. For those on middle and high incomes, the upper threshold for those receiving partial grants will be reduced from £60,005 to £50,020.

For full details of the proposed changes to grants and loans, visit the higher education student support section of the DIUS website http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/studentsupport/ and the student finance section of the DirectGov website http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/educationandlearning/universityandhighereducation/studentfinance/index.htm