Written statement on Higher Education Student Finance - Jul 23

Chris Skidmore (The Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation): I am announcing details of student finance arrangements for higher education students undertaking a course of study in the 2020/21 academic year starting on 1 August 2020.

Maximum tuition fees for the 2020/21 academic year in England will be maintained at the levels that apply in the 2019/20 academic year, the third year in succession that fees have been frozen. This means that the maximum level of tuition fees for a standard full-time course will remain at £9,250 for the 2020/21 academic year.

Maximum undergraduate loans for living costs will be increased by forecast inflation (2.9%) in 2020/21. And the same increase will apply to maximum disabled students’ allowances for students with disabilities undertaking full-time and part-time undergraduate courses in 2020/21. Maximum grants for students with child or adult dependants who are attending full-time undergraduate courses in 2020/21 will also increase by forecast inflation in 2020/21.

We are also increasing support for students undertaking postgraduate courses in 2020/21. Maximum loans for students starting master’s degree and doctoral degree courses from 1 August 2020 onwards will be increased by forecast inflation (2.9%) in 2020/21. And the same increase will apply to the maximum disabled students’ allowance for postgraduate students with disabilities in 2020/21.

I expect to lay regulations implementing changes to student finance for undergraduates and postgraduates for 2020/21 late in 2019 or early in 2020. These regulations will be subject to Parliamentary scrutiny.

The Government will consider the recommendations of the independent panel to the Review of Post-18 Education and Funding, published on 30 May 2019, and will conclude the review at the Spending Review later this year.

Higher Education Student Finance for 2020/21

1) Fees for full-time and part-time undergraduate students.

Maximum fees for full-time and part-time undergraduate courses will remain at 2019/20 levels in 2020/21.

The maximum fee for standard full-time courses offered by Approved (Fee Cap) Providers with an Access and Participation Plan (APP) and a Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Award (TEF) will remain at £9,250 in 2020/21.

The maximum fee for full-time accelerated degree courses offered by Approved (Fee Cap) Providers with an APP and a TEF will remain at £11,100 in 2020/21.

The maximum fee for part-time courses offered by Approved (Fee Cap) Providers with an APP and a TEF will remain at £6,935 in 2020/21.

Lower maximum fees will remain at 2019/20 levels in 2020/21 for (i) courses offered by providers without an APP and/or a TEF and (ii) overseas study years, work placement years and short final years of full-time courses.

Students undertaking courses at Approved (Fee Cap) Providers will be able to apply for up-front tuition fee loans to meet the full costs of their tuition.

Maximum fees for undergraduate courses offered by Approved Providers are not capped. Students undertaking courses at Approved Providers will be able to apply for up-front tuition fee loans towards the costs of their tuition which will remain at 2019/20 levels in 2020/21: up to £6,165 for a standard full-time course; up to £7,400 for a full-time accelerated degree course and up to £4,625 for a part-time course.

2) Living costs support for full-time undergraduate students.

Loans for living costs for new full-time students and continuing full-time students starting their courses on or after 1 August 2016. 

Maximum loans for living costs for new full-time students and eligible continuing full-time students starting their courses on or after 1 August 2016 will be increased by forecast inflation (2.9%) in 2020/21.

The maximum loan for living costs for 2020/21 will be £9,203 for students living away from home and studying outside London. The equivalent loan rate for students living away from home and studying in London will be £12,010; for those living in the parental home during their studies, £7,747; and for those studying overseas as part of their UK course, £10,539.

Loans for living costs for new full-time students and continuing full-time students starting their courses on or after 1 August 2016 who are eligible for benefits. 

Maximum loans for living costs for new full-time students and eligible continuing full-time students starting their courses on or after 1 August 2016, and who are eligible for benefits, will be increased by forecast inflation (2.9%) in 2020/21.

The maximum loan for living costs for 2020/21 will be £10,490 for students who are eligible for benefits who are living away from home and studying outside London. The equivalent loan rate for students who are eligible for benefits who are living away from home and studying in London will be £13,098; for those living in the parental home during their studies, £9,140; and for those studying overseas as part of their UK course, £11,732.

Loans for living costs for new full-time students and continuing full-time students starting their courses on or after 1 August 2016 who are aged 60 or over on the first day of the first academic year of their course. 

The maximum loan for living costs in 2020/21 for new full-time students and eligible continuing full-time students starting their courses on or after 1 August 2016 who are aged 60 or over on the first day of the first academic year of their course, will be increased by forecast inflation (2.9%) to £3,893.

Maintenance grants and special support grants for full-time students who started their courses before 1 August 2016. 

The maximum maintenance grant and special support grant for eligible full-time students who started their courses on or after 1 September 2012 but before 1 August 2016, will be increased by forecast inflation (2.9%) to £3,801 in 2020/21.

The maximum maintenance grant and special support grant for eligible full-time students who started their courses before 1 September 2012 will be increased by forecast inflation (2.9%) to £3,489 in 2020/21.

Loans for living costs for full-time students who started their courses before 1 August 2016. 

Maximum loans for living costs for eligible students who started their courses on or after 1 September 2012 but before 1 August 2016, will be increased by forecast inflation (2.9%) in 2020/21.

The maximum loan for living costs will be £6,597 for students who are living away from home and studying outside London. The equivalent loan rate for students living away from home and studying in London will be £9,205; for those living in the parental home during their studies, £5,247; and for those studying overseas as part of their UK course, £7,837.

Loans for living costs for eligible students who started their courses before 1 September 2012. 

Maximum loans for living costs for eligible students who started their courses before 1 September 2012 will be increased by forecast inflation (2.9%) in 2020/21.

The maximum loan for living costs will be £5,938 for students who are living away from home and studying outside London. The equivalent loan rate for students living away from home and studying in London will be £8,309; for those living in the parental home during their studies, £4,604; and for those studying overseas as part of their UK course, £7,068.

Long Courses Loans.

Maximum long courses (living costs) loans for new and continuing students who are attending full-time courses that are longer than 30 weeks and 3 days during the academic year will be increased by forecast inflation (2.9%) in 2020/21.

3) Targeted support for undergraduate students with dependants and undergraduate students with disabilities.

Dependants’ Grants.

Maximum dependants’ grants (adult dependants’ grant, childcare grant and parents’ learning allowance) will be increased by forecast inflation (2.9%) in 2020/21 for all new and continuing full-time undergraduate students.

The maximum adult dependants’ grant will be increased to £3,094 in 2020/21.

The maximum childcare grant payable in 2020/21, which covers 85% of actual childcare costs up to a specified limit, will be increased to £174.22 per week for one child only and £298.69 per week for two or more children.

The maximum parents’ learning allowance payable in 2020/21 will be increased to £1,766.

Disabled Students’ Allowances.

Maximum grants for undergraduate students with disabilities will be increased by forecast inflation (2.9%) in 2020/21.

For a full-time course: to £23,258 for a non-medical personal helper, £5,849 for major items of specialist equipment and £1,954 for other disability related expenditure.

For a part-time course: to £17,443 for a non-medical personal helper, £5,849 for major items of specialist equipment and £1,465 for other disability related expenditure.

4) Support for part-time undergraduate students.

Fee and course grants for students who started part-time courses before 1 September 2012.

Maximum fee and course grants for students who started part-time courses before 1 September 2012 will be increased by forecast inflation (2.9%) in 2020/21. Maximum fee grants will be increased to £959, £1,150 or £1,442, depending on the intensity of study of the course. The maximum course grant will be increased to £314.

Loans for living costs for new part-time students and continuing part-time students starting degree level courses on or after 1 August 2018. 

Maximum loans for living costs for new part-time students and continuing part-time students who started degree level courses on or after 1 August 2018 will be increased by forecast inflation (2.9%) in 2020/21.

The maximum loan for living costs for 2020/21 will be £9,203 for students living away from home and studying outside London. The equivalent loan rate for students living away from home and studying in London will be £12,010; for those living in the parental home during their studies, £7,747; and for those studying overseas as part of their UK course, £10,539.

Part-time students qualify for a proportion of the full-time loan for living costs depending on their intensity of study compared with a full-time course.

5) Support for postgraduate students.

Loans for students undertaking postgraduate master’s degree courses.

Maximum loans for new students starting postgraduate master’s degree courses in 2020/21 will be increased by forecast inflation (2.9%) to £11,222.

Loans for students undertaking postgraduate doctoral degree courses.

Maximum loans for new students starting postgraduate doctoral degree courses in 2020/21 will be increased by forecast inflation (2.9%) to £26,445.

Disabled Students’ Allowance.

The maximum grant for postgraduate students with disabilities will be increased by forecast inflation (2.9%) to £20,580 in 2020/21.

More details of Higher Education student finance arrangements for the 2020/21 academic year will be published on Government websites in due course.