AQW 12012/17-22

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 14/12/2020
Answered On Date: 13/01/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy, pursuant to AQW 11307/17-22, to detail the reasons for the different lower and maximum loan amounts for Northern Irish students living away from home, compared to those for the other regions of the UK.

Answer:

The difference in maintenance loan amounts for HE students across the UK is a direct result of the devolution of Higher Education. Each country has differing policy priorities around Higher Education and differing budgetary constraints, and it is therefore inevitable that student financial support amounts and terms and conditions will vary in each jurisdiction.

The level of maintenance loans available to NI domiciles have been maintained at the same level since academic year 2009/10. Changes to the level of support were considered for the 2014/15 academic year by Minister Farry. However, it was considered that the freezing of maintenance support was an integral part of the funding package approved by the Executive which provided for lower tuition fees for NI students at local universities in the context of fees rising to £9k in England.