Some students unable to study at university due to Jersey’s means-tested funding system

CONCERNS were raised about the adequacy of current means-tested student funding as Islanders collected their A level results yesterday.

Student Loan Support Group Jersey founder Nicola Heath said that while the Island’s grant-based system is welcome, it can still leave students unable to study at university if parents are unable or unwilling to make up the shortfall – particularly with the rising cost of living.

She explained: “Although grant-based, university funding in Jersey is means tested for both fees and maintenance.

“If it is insufficient to cover costs, parents can find it very difficult to fund the shortfall from their disposable income with the rising cost of living.

“If they can’t do that or if they refuse to – and a few do – then the student has no other option but not to study.”

Ms Heath explained that some Jersey students get jobs to be able to afford university, but noted that “the number of hours students need to work to cover gaps can have consequences on their study”.

She described Jersey as “quite far adrift” when compared to funding available in other jurisdictions.

Ms Heath said: “We are again – as we were when this group – formed falling behind with the amount of funding that is available.

“We do not have a minimum level of funding students can always access, unlike UK students.”

The Student Loan Support Group founder described postgraduate funding in Jersey as “dire”.

“The minister increased the eligibility on who could apply for the postgraduate bursary this year, but he did not increase the amount of funding in the pot,” she explained.

Earlier this year, it was announced that tuition fee and maintenance grants for higher education students would rise from the start of the next academic year.

From 1 September 2025, maintenance grants will rise by 2.5% (from £8,915 to £9,138) and tuition fee grants increasing by 3.1% (from £9,250 to £9,535) to align with the new cap in England and Wales.

However, the income thresholds determining the amount Islanders receive will also increase at the same time.

The income threshold for the maximum maintenance grant will increase from £50,000 to £52,600, whilst the threshold to receive the maximum tuition grant will increase from £110,000 to £115,720.

Income thresholds will also rise for the clinical component grant, grants to attend an interviews, and specialist equipment grants for students with disabilities.

At the time, Education Minister Rob Ward said: “These changes ensure we are in line with increases to the cost of living and will help to reduce any cost-based barriers that may prevent our young people from continuing their studies, particularly when the majority of our young adults study in the UK and so living at home to reduce those costs isn’t an option.”

The JEP has asked the minister to confirm whether there are any further plans to review grant levels or provide additional funding boosts for students in the near future.

Despite financial pressures, many young islanders still plan to study – and remain – off-island.

Nearly half of Year 10 and 12 students do not consider Jersey a viable place to build a life and career, according to a survey – with over a third of sixth form students planning to leave the island for university and not return.

The Children and Young People’s Survey, conducted by Statistics Jersey and published earlier this year, revealed that young women are more likely to want to study and work off-island than their male peers.

According to the findings, 42% of females intended to go to university and seek a career outside of Jersey – compared to 24% of young men.

Students from fee-paying schools (70%) are significantly more likely to pursue a university education compared to their peers from non-fee-paying schools (37%).

The survey also found that nearly half (46%) of Year 10 and 12 students do not consider Jersey a viable place to build a life and career, with only 36% feeling confident about their future in the island.

Affluent students were more likely to see a future in Jersey, according to the findings.

Over a third of Year 10 and 12 students from families with average or above average finances agreed or strongly agreed that Jersey was the right place to build a life and career.

In comparison, only a quarter of young people from families with below average finances felt the same way.

The sense that young people are leaving the island and not coming back reflects a demographic challenge that can also be seen in Jersey’s population changes.

Data from Statistics Jersey shows the number of islanders in their 20s and 30s has dropped by 7% between 2017 and 2023, while Guernsey recorded a 6% increase.

The decline is particularly pronounced among 20- to 24-year-olds in Jersey, where the population fell by 13% over this period, compared to Guernsey’s 2% decrease.

How did each sixth form do?

At Hautlieu, just over 70% of A Level students achieved grades A* to C. 

Beaulieu Convent School confirmed that 18.5% of students received an A* grade or equivalent, with over 90% of all students securing a place at their university of choice.

At Jersey College for Girls, 264 exams were taken and all were passed. A total of 38% of grades were at A*/A, 68% at A*/B, and 93% at A*/C.

Victoria College also received an 100% pass rate on all exams taken – with 43% of grades at A* to A, 73% of grades at A* to B, and 90% at A* to C.

A total of 98% of Highlands College’s sixth form students passed their professional and technical qualifications, at the same level as A levels. Of these, 89% have secured employment or enrolled upon further higher-level training; more than half of these will be studying degrees.