Guidance

Higher Education Policy Changes in England - AY 2016/17

Published 29 October 2019

Applies to England

1. Key changes in 2016/17

1.1 Postgraduate master’s loan

The new Postgraduate Master’s Degree Loan is now available to eligible students starting master’s courses, in any subject, on or after 1 August 2016. The loan scheme makes £10,000 available to students as a contribution towards the costs of their study and can be used for tuition fees and /or living costs.

1.2 Full-Time Tuition Fee Loans

No changes from 2015/16. Eligible English domiciled students and EU domiciled students (studying in England) who started full-time courses on or after 1 September 2012 at public providers are subject to a maximum tuition fee of £9,000, and can borrow up to this amount in the form of a tuition fee loan.

1.3 Part-Time Tuition Fee Loans

No changes from 2015/16. Eligible English domiciled students and EU domiciled students (studying in England) who started part-time courses on or after 1 September 2012 at public providers are subject to a maximum tuition fee of £6,750, and can borrow up to this amount in the form of a tuition fee loan.

1.4 Full-time loans for living costs

For new full-time students starting their courses on or after 1 August 2016, non-repayable maintenance grants have been switched to loans with eligible new full-time students from the lowest income backgrounds receiving £766 additional living costs support when compared with the previous (2015/16) academic year.

For eligible new students on the lowest incomes the maximum loan for living costs for students living away from home and studying outside London has been increased to £8,200, for students living away from home and studying in London to £10,702 and for students living at home to £6,904 (an increase of 10.3% in living costs support when compared with the 2015/16 academic year).

1.5 Maximum loans for living costs

Continuing full-time students who started their courses on or after 1 September 2012 but before 1 August 2016 have been increased by forecast inflation, 2.41%. The maximum loan for living costs for students living away from home and studying outside London was increased to £5,878, for students living away from home and studying in London to £8,202 and for students living at home to £4,675.

1.6 Full-time maintenance grants

The maximum Maintenance Grant/Special Support Grant for full time students who started their courses on or after 1 September 2012 but before 1 August 2016 has been maintained at 2015/16 levels in 2016/17. The maximum maintenance grant has been maintained at £3,387. The maximum Special Support Grant which is paid to certain groups of students eligible for benefits in place of maintenance grant has also been maintained at £3,387.

1.7 Disabled Students’ Allowance

Maximum Disabled Students’ Allowances for new and continuing full-time, part-time and postgraduate students have been maintained at 2015/16 levels in 2016/17.

Full-time undergraduate students - The Non-Medical Helper Allowance has been maintained at £20,725, the Specialist Equipment Allowance at £5,212, the allowance for other disability related expenditure at £1,741.

Part-time undergraduate students - The Non-Medical Helper Allowance has been maintained at £15,543, the Specialist Equipment Allowance at £5,212 and the allowance for other disability related expenditure at £1,305.

Postgraduate students - The maximum disabled students’ allowance has been maintained at £10,362.

Additionally, for students making their first claim for DSAs in 2016/17 or later, the following changes will apply

• HE providers are to take primary responsibility for less specialist non-medical support roles, with the exception of sighted guides for which DSAs will retain primary responsibility.
• DSAs will retain primary responsibility for funding the most specialist non-medical help support, with the exception of specialist transcription services for which HE providers will take primary responsibility.
• DSAs funding will not be available where specialist accommodation is provided by the HE provider or their agent, other than by exception, and HE providers should no longer pass any additional costs onto the student.
• Devices for printing and scanning will continue to be funded through DSAs where there is a disability related reason, but HE providers are expected to reduce the need for individual devices through improved library services and access to printing/scanning services.
• Standard computer peripherals and other accessories will now be funded by exception only, and where there is a disability related reason, apart from standard laptop carry cases.

1.8 Other targeted support

Grants for new and continuing full-time students with dependants have been maintained at 2015/16 levels in 2016/17. The maximum Adult Dependants’ Grant has been maintained at £2,757. The maximum Childcare Grant has been maintained at £155.24 per week for one child and £266 for two or more children. The maximum Parents’ Learning Allowance has been maintained at £1,573.

2. Further Information

Further information on student loans policies can be found on the Student Finance England practitioners website.