MORE students could be eligible for government grants to help cover the cost of university fees and living expenses from next year, Education Minister Rob Ward has announced.
If approved, the move, which aims to increase access to higher-education support, would raise the income threshold that decides which families can access support by 5.2%. The change is dependent on the government’s spending plans being approved next month.
The adjustments, which are based on updated income data for Jersey, mean more students will qualify for help with tuition fees and costs such as accommodation, food and books.
Under the current system, students from households earning under £50,000 can get between £8,331 and £8,915 per year for living costs, plus £9,250 for tuition fees.
The maintenance grant amount decreases as household income rises, with no maintenance support for households earning £90,000 or more, while students from households with an income above £200,000 or assets over £500,000 do not qualify for any financial support.
Disabled students and those studying in clinical fields such as medicine, veterinary, dentistry or nursing can also receive extra funding as part of this scheme.
Deputy Ward also confirmed that, under the proposed changes, students who are studying remotely would be eligible for the same maximum grant as those attending campus-based programmes.
The maximum grant for distance learning currently is £7,400 but the proposed changes will mean someone studying distance learning full-time could be eligible for a tuition fee grant of up to £9,250 and a maintenance grant of £8,915 if they meet the eligibility criteria for the maximum amount. This is more than double what is available now.
If approved, the maintenance grant for living costs will be introduced, which acknowledges that time spent studying is time that can’t be spent working and earning, regardless of the mode of study.
