Higher Education: Part-time Education
14th June 2011
Dr Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what recent discussions he has had with representatives of higher education institutions (HEIs) on steps to ensure that study through the part-time mode is financially sustainable for (a) students and (b) the provider HEI; and if he will make a statement; (2) what recent discussions he has had with (a) the Open University and (b) Birbeck College on steps to ensure that under-represented groups in higher education receive adequate financial support; and if he will make a statement.
Mr Willetts: I have had a number of discussions with representatives of higher education institutions (HEIs), about our package of reforms, including its impact on part-time students and HEIs.
I meet representatives of the Open University and Birkbeck College on a regular basis to discuss all aspects of part-time student support, including support that will be provided to encourage under-represented groups in higher education.
From 2012/13 eligible new part-time students will not need to pay their tuition charges upfront as they will be able to access loans in order to pay for their tuition, as is the case for full-time students. The new system of loans will be available to significantly more part-time students than the existing package of means-tested grants, available only to low-income students and which supports only around one in seven part-time students. Support under the new loans package will not be means-tested, and can be accessed by eligible students studying at an intensity rate of at least 25% of the full-time equivalent course (FTE) each year (currently grants are available only to students studying at 50% FTE). The amount of loan will fully meet the student's actual tuition charge; which is frequently not the case under the current system of grants.
In order to improve financial support to under-represented groups in higher education we are introducing the National Scholarship Programme, which in particular will support students from low income backgrounds.
The significant improvement in the package of support for eligible part-time students will provide new opportunities for institutions with large numbers of such students to provide courses that are attractive.
