Better deal for part-time HE students announced Wednesday, December 8, 2010 - 16:49

The Government's announcement will mean more part-time students will be eligible for full-loan support for their tuition costs, alongside not having to pay their fees up front.

Responding to these changes, NIACE Deputy Chief Executive, Peter Lavender, said:

"NIACE is particularly pleased about the increased numbers of part-time undergraduate students who will no longer have to pay their fees up front. For years NIACE has been arguing for a fairer deal for part-time students, the vast majority of whom are adults."

"However, NIACE is concerned about the increased cost of university education and the narrowing of the curriculum offer, with fewer opportunities to study the arts, humanities and social sciences. This will have the unintended consequence that fewer adults, from a variety of backgrounds, will not be able to afford, or have the desire, to study for what will be limited higher-level qualifications. It is vital in an ageing society and with the need for a flexible and dynamic economy, that adults of all ages and all stages have the flexibility and choice of learning opportunities to improve their skills."

"While there is still much progress to be made this is definitely a step in the right direction and proves that the Government listens and that, at times, strong advocacy works."

Alan Tuckett, NIACE Chief Executive, added:

"While welcome, the benefit of the new legislation for part-time HE students studying for 25 per cent of their time only affects about a third of part-time students. It would be double this number - two-thirds of students - if the previous Government hadn't imposed the restriction on students studying for an equivalent or lower level degree. We hope the Coalition Government changes this legislation soon."

The changes announced include:

• All eligible part time undergraduate students studying for at least 25% of their time will qualify for full loan support for their tuition costs, compared with the 33% originally proposed: they will no longer have to pay up front fees.

• The £21,000 earnings threshold will be uprated annually in line with earnings from 2016, when the first graduates under the new system start repayments, rather than every five years as originally proposed. No graduate will repay anything until they reach that income threshold.

• The £15,000 earnings threshold that applies in the current student finance system will be uprated annually in line with inflation from 2012. The £15,000 threshold has never been uprated since its announcement in 2004. This change will help existing graduates.