Higher Education: Finance
29th March 2011
Dr Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with (a) the Open University and (b) other providers of part-time higher education on future funding for part-time higher education students in England; and if he will make a statement.
Mr Willetts: I have had a number of discussions with the Open University and other institutions about our package of reforms and its impact on part time students. From 2012/13 we propose that part-time students will be able to have access to loans to pay their tuition costs provided they are studying at publicly-funded institutions and at an intensity rate of at least 25%. We also propose that tuition costs for part-time students will be capped at a level which will be set pro-rata to the maximum amount chargeable to full-time students. These measures will help deliver the Government's intention that part-time students are treated similarly to full-time students for tuition.
