AQW 38285/11-15


Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry


Tabled Date: 05/11/2014
Answered On Date: 17/11/2014
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the Minister for Employment and Learning to detail the financial support available through his Department, and other bodies, for students from Northern Ireland who relocate to other areas of the UK for university education.


Answer:
In the current academic year 2014/2015, a Maintenance Loan of up to £6,780 is available for Northern Ireland domiciled students living and attending college in London. If the course is anywhere else in Great Britain, the loan available is up to £4,840. Twenty-five percent of the loan is means tested.
Maintenance Grant (non repayable)
The maximum maintenance grant is £3,475 and is means tested. Students from households with an income of £19,203 or less should receive the maximum grant. Students from households with an income between £19,204 and £41,065 will receive a partial grant on a sliding scale basis.
Special Support Grant (non repayable)
A special support grant rather than a maintenance grant is payable to students who may be eligible to claim means-tested benefits such as Income Support and Housing Benefit. This will generally be lone parents, other student parents if they have a partner who is a student, and students with disabilities. The amount of the special support grant is £3,475 and is calculated in the same way as the maintenance grant. Unlike the maintenance grant, the special support grant will not affect the amount of maintenance loan the student may be entitled to.
Tuition fees (repayable)
The tuition fee loan is not means tested. However, it is restricted to the actual fee being charged up to a maximum of £9,000 in Great Britain.
Supplementary Grants (non repayable)
A range of other means tested grants are available to some students in certain circumstances (i.e. Parent Learning Allowance, Childcare Grant and Adult Dependants Grant). Non means tested Disabled Students Allowances are also available.
In addition, Universities in Great Britain offer Hardship Funds to provide help for students on lower income who may need extra financial support in order to remain in higher education. The funds can be used to meet course and living costs which are not already being met from other grants.