UK: Boost for poorer students

"Thinking about uni? Don't let money get in your way. Going to uni could be the best investment you ever make. So don't let finances get in your way." This is the hard sell from Britain's Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills in a new campaign aimed at highlighting the financial support available to students entering university next September.

An improved student finance package could mean that an estimated 100,000 extra students a year will be entitled to non-repayable grants (two thirds of eligible students), according to Bill Rammell, Higher Education Secretary.

The multi-media campaign launched last Monday, the start of Student Finance Week 07, and is designed to debunk the myths around student loans and debt involved when school leavers decide to go to university. The campaign features television and radio advertisements as well as web-based and podcast material.

An interactive DVD provides information on the student finance package and features 'four youth celebrities': Miquita Oliver (T4), Mark Heap (Green Wing) and comedian Ed Byrne (Mock the Week), and is presented by Nick Grimshaw (E4, Radio 1). It is available online at www.direct.gov.uk

Rammell said: "It is essential that young people and their parents understand that there is financial support available to study at university and that we have increased the thresholds so that from next September students from families on an income of below £25,000 (US$51,600) will gain a full non repayable maintenance grant.

"For the first time those students from hard-working families earning up to £60,005 per year (compared with £39,305 continuing under the old system) will now qualify for partial non-repayable maintenance grants. This means that a larger number of students will now be eligible for this additional support who previously would not have qualified."

In 2008-09 tuition fees cost a maximum of £3,143 a year, with the government contributing around £4,000 towards the overall costs of study and with loans for living expenses of up to £6,475 depending on where the student is based.

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