Question

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to support universities to provide bursaries for students experiencing difficulty in meeting living expenses.

As autonomous and independent organisations, Universities are responsible for planning and implementing their bursary and hardship schemes.

Universities wishing to charge above the basic fee (£6,000 for full time students. £4,500 for part time students) must agree an access agreement with the Office for Fair Access. In access agreements, universities set out what more they will do to support students from disadvantaged and under-represented groups. This includes the outreach they will undertake, and the measures to support student retention and success, including bursaries.

From this year, funding that used to be delivered through the Access to Learning Fund (ALF) has been incorporated into the Student Opportunity Fund allocation provided to universities by the Higher Education Funding Council for England. This year £366m was provided to universities and colleges through the allocation. Universities may use the allocation to alleviate hardship for both undergraduate and postgraduate home students.