Higher Education Policy Changes in England - AY 2015/16
Published 29 October 2019
Applies to England
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/higher-education-policy-changes-in-england/higher-education-policy-changes-in-england-ay-201516
1. Key changes in 2015/16
1.1 Full-Time Tuition Fee Loans
No changes from 2014/15. 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.
Students who started full-time courses which started before 1st September 2012 were subject to a maximum tuition fee of £3,465 in 2015/16 (maintained at 2014/15 levels in 2015/16) and could borrow up to this amount in the form of a tuition fee loan.
1.2 Part-Time Tuition Fee Loans
No changes from 2014/15. For all new part-time students in 2015/16 and eligible continuing part-time students’ who started courses at public providers on or after 1 September 2012, maximum tuition fees were maintained at £6,750 and students could borrow up to this amount in the form of a tuition fee loan.
1.3 Full-time loans for living costs
Maximum loansfor living costs for full-time courses were increased by forecast inflation 3.34%. For new full-time students and eligible continuing students who started their courses on or after 1 September 2012 and were living away from home and studying outside London the maximum loan for living costs was increased to £5,740, for students living away from home and studying in London to £8,009 and for students living at home to £4,565.
1.4 Full-time maintenance grants
For eligible new full-time students and continuing students who started their courses on or after 1 September 2012, the maximum grant in 2015/16 was maintained at £3,387.
For continuing full-time students who started their courses before 1 September 2012, the maximum grant in 2015/16 was maintained at £3,110.
1.5 Disabled Students’ Allowance
Maximum Disabled Students’ Allowances were maintained at 2014/15 levels in 2015/16
The full-time Non-Medical Helper Allowance was maintained at £20,725, the Specialist Equipment Allowance at £5,212, the allowance for other disability related expenditure at £1,741.
The part-time Non-Medical Helper Allowance was maintained at £15,543, the Specialist Equipment Allowance at £5,212 and the allowance for other disability related expenditure at £1,305.
For postgraduate students, the maximum disabled students’ allowance has been maintained at £10,362.
From September 2015, DSAs have not been available for the first £200 cost towards a computer. Additionally, from this date DSAs are only available for higher specification computers which are needed to run assistive technology and where such a computer is required solely because of the student’s disability.
1.6 Other targeted support
Dependants’ grants for full-time students with caring responsibilities were increased by forecast inflation 3.34%.
Maximum Adult Dependants’ Grant was increased by 3.34% to £2,757. The maximum Childcare Grant was increased by 3.34% to £155.24 per week for one child only and to £266.15 per week for two or more children. The maximum Parents’ Learning Allowance was increased to £1,573, an increase of 3.34%.
2. Further Information
Further information on student loans policies can be found on the Student Finance England practitioners website.