18/11/2003

Student living standards rise, claims government

Student living standards have risen by 15% over the last four years, according to figures released to day by the government.

The Student Income and Expenditure Survey also shows that many students are personally contributing to the upfront tuition fee despite the fact that their parents have been assessed as capable of paying. This means that many parents and students will benefit from the proposed abolition of upfront fees from 2006, the government claimed.

Higher education Minister Alan Johnson said the survey "proves that the government is right to abolish upfront fees".

"Too many students are having to find over £700 in upfront fees each year because their parents are not paying the assessed contribution themselves. This means that getting rid of upfront fees in 2006 will make the system fairer for middle income students as well as their parents," he said.

The survey of students' income and expenditure patterns found that the average expected debt is currently around £8,666.

"This suggests that talk of average student debt currently being over £10,000 is excessive and talk of £33,000 debt by 2010 is absolute nonsense," said Mr Johnson.

He also said that the student loan continues to do what it is intended to do - to meet basic living costs.

"However, we will analyse the survey's findings carefully as part of our spending review process to make sure the student loan is effectively covering different categories of student."

(gmcg)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

02 November 2011
Student Loan Company Recruits 'Lab Subjects'
Students from across the country are being recruited to take part in a unique experiment, which could shape how student finance products and services are run in the future. The Student Loans Company (SLC) has launched a nationwide search for 5,000 customers to take part in its online Student Finance Lab.
21 April 2005
Liberal Democrats to tackle student debt
The Liberal Democrats have promised to remove the fear of debt from university students by scrapping tuition and top-up fees and increase grants for poorer students. The party announced that a Liberal Democrat government would provide grants of up to £2,000 per year to poorer students.
12 November 2009
Rogue Entertainment Agencies Crackdown
The Government has today announced new action to crackdown on the ugly face of the modelling and entertainment industry. To prevent rogue entertainment and modelling agencies from exploiting people the Government will introduce new rules banning agencies from taking upfront fees from models, background artists, extras and walk-ons.
08 January 2004
Poorest students offered support over university fees
The poorest 30% of students will be guaranteed at least £3,000 a year from 2006 under plans announced by the Education Secretary Charles Clarke today.
13 September 2005
Nurses’ debts increasing, survey reveals
The number of student nurses with debts of more than £10,000 has doubled within two years, new research has revealed. A survey of 2,000 student nurses, conducted by ‘Nursing Times’ and health workers’ union Unison, found that 13% had debts totalling more than £10,000 in 2005, compared to 6% in 2003.