University students to face stricter rules when accessing loans
Ministers are considering barring UK students without a pass in GCSE English from accessing student loans, which could prevent tens of thousands of students without formal qualifications from entering higher education.
The plans were first reported following a Financial Times analysis detailing the rise in entrants without formal qualifications to undergraduate courses, noting an increase from 1.6% to 8% over roughly a decade.
The planned changes are connected to a Starmer-era drive by the Department for Education and the Work and Pensions to crack down on poor-quality degrees
Department for Education
This increase is attributed mostly to franchised higher education courses, which are delivered through partnerships between institutions. A government press release described parts of this subsector as ‘abusing’ the student–loan system.
The latest available data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) shows that six such providers had incoming cohorts where the majority lacked formal qualifications. The highest figure in the latest data was 72% at Ravensbourne University London, compared with an all-time high of 75% at Leeds Trinity University.
The HESA data includes students taking foundation years, which are designed to prepare students without typical entry qualifications for undergraduate study. However, foundation-year students do not account for the 8% figure alone.
The planned changes are connected to a Starmer-era drive by the Department for Education (DfE) and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to crack down on poor–quality degrees.
The Guardian reported that the plans “would also serve as a de facto admissions standard by cutting off access to finance.” Critics argue that the change could disproportionately affect poorer students without access to self-funding.
The government has yet to finalise or announce these plans
Financial Times
Supporters of the change, such as Adam Tickell, Vice-chancellor of the University of Birmingham, have celebrated the abandoning of “the naive belief that everyone should have a right to funding for a degree.”
Other supporters expressed more caution. Libby Hackett, Chief Executive of the Russell Group, said she supported a minimum entry standard “in principle”, but that “appropriate flexibility” was required to avoid cutting off mature students and students from underrepresented backgrounds, who may be less likely to hold GCSEs or equivalent qualifications.
The Government has yet to finalise or announce these plans. According to the Financial Times, the DfE is considering “a range of options” for minimum requirements to access loans.
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