AQW 13685/22-27

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 21/06/2024
Answered On Date: 02/07/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy to detail any consideration he has given to better financially support students who achieve places at highly ranked universities in Great Britain but for whom the fees are prohibitively expensive.

Answer:

For academic year 2024/25 students domiciled here can apply for a tuition fee loan of up to £9,250 to pay for the undergraduate tuition fees charged at publicly funded universities in England, Scotland and Wales. Undergraduate home fees will be capped at £9,250 in England, Scotland and Wales in academic year 2024/25.

The tuition fee loan available to postgraduate students was increased to £6,500 in academic year 2023/2024 following a review and consultation on the level of postgraduate tuition fee loans.

Since I came into post I have been clear about my wish to strengthen the support provided to students and I will be considering a number of options going forward.