Overview

• The grants will be targeted at low-income students on Level 4–6 courses aligned with the government’s skills and industrial strategy under the Lifelong Learning Entitlement.
• A new levy on international students will finance the support and will apply to higher education providers in England only, with implementation pledged by the end of the Parliament.
• University leaders warn the levy, reported at 6%, could remove more than £600 million a year from English universities, raising concerns about financial strain and course capacity.
• Sector bodies including Universities UK and the University and College Union criticized using international students’ fees to fund domestic support, arguing it could hinder provision in expensive subjects such as engineering and computing.
• Reporting indicates far fewer students may qualify than under the pre-2016 scheme, and the final grant values and number of recipients will be decided at the Autumn Budget.