Government announces concessions on college loan plans

The further education minister, John Hayes, said today that college loans for students aged over 24 will be written off for those who complete access courses and then go on to complete a course in higher education. In addition, £20million extra bursary funding will be made available for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The news follows a long campaign by UCU and others in the sector against the plans to force older students, wanting to study to A-level equivalent qualifications and above, to take out loans to cover their full college tuition*.

Last month government evidence revealed that over 100,000 fewer learners could be put off from studying and UCU said that even with today's measures, thousands were still likely to be priced out when the new loans system is introduced in 2013/14.

UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said:'This is a welcome step by the government and I am pleased that ministers have listened to UCU and other voices in the sector. However, we remained concerned that despite these new measures thousands of learners will still miss out on a second chance at education.'

Notes

*At present students in further education pay 50% towards their college tuition with the government contributing 50%. Under the new plans, students over the age of 24 wanting to study A-Level equivalent qualifications and above, will be forced to take out loans to pay for all the costs of their tuition, like students in higher education.