Higher education students in England will be able to apply for student loans and grants online at the same time as applying for their place at university, under new plans announced by the Higher Education Minister Bill Rammell.
For the first time, potential students will be able to access financial support through an integrated student finance service which will be delivered by a single, national delivery organisation. This service will allow students to investigate the financial support available across a range of courses and apply for government backed loans and grants at the same time as they are applying for a university place.
Sir Martin Harris, Director of OFFA, said:
“I welcome any measure which will make the delivery of student finance as simple and accessible as possible to prospective students, their parents/carers and advisers. This new, online integrated service, should lead to clearer, high quality information, advice and guidance. I am particularly pleased to see that there are plans to include an online financial calculator for students, giving information about their entitlement to statutory support and allowing them to compare bursary offers from different institutions.
“There is still some way to go before these changes will be phased in, starting with new students planning to enter higher education in the 2009/10 academic year. It is therefore important that institutions continue to review their own communications activities in light of recent evidence which suggests that, at present, potential students are less clear about institutional support such as bursaries, than they are about the level of fees and the nature of Government loans and grants.”
The changes are the result of a review of higher education student finance delivery in England, which was published by the former Education Secretary Ruth Kelly in January. Following independent appraisal and consultation with key stakeholders, the changes will be phased in for the 2009/10 academic year.
Notes
The Review of Higher Education Student Finance Delivery was published on 31 January.