29 March 2023
The Minister for Children and Education, Deputy Gardiner has confirmed further updates to the
Student Finance system, which will come into effect from September 2023.
These changes have been announced in response to the increased cost of living, and the additional
pressures this is placing on students and families. They mean that all students will receive either the
same level of maintenance grant or – in many cases – receive more funding.
The Minister has issued Law drafting instructions and once drafting is complete, she will sign an
Order to bring the changes into effect from September 2023.
Sliding scale
Students who have a relevant household income of less than £90,000 are eligible for a meanstested, non-repayable maintenance grant. From September 2023, maintenance will be calculated
using a sliding scale model, rather than the current ‘banded’ model.
Under the current model, the maintenance grant a student receives is based on their relevant
income, which is divided into different bands. This means that students see steep drop-offs in
funding when their assessed income moves from one band up to another.
For example, under the current banded model a dependent off-Island student with income of
£49,999 would receive a maintenance grant of £8,572 for the 2023-24 academic year. If the
student’s relevant income rose by just £1 to £50,000, their maintenance grant would drop to
£6,857.
Under the new sliding scale model, this student would receive £1 less in maintenance for
approximately every £6 increase in their relevant income up to the £90,000 threshold. This will
remove the drop-offs in maintenance grant as income increases.
In the example above, a student with a relevant household income of £49,999 will still receive a
maintenance grant of £8,572. If their relevant household income increased to £50,000, their
maintenance grant would remain at £8,572. From this point, it would gradually reduce in £1
increments down to a minimum payment of £1,715 where income reaches £89,999.
London weighting
Students who are studying in London and who are eligible for a maintenance grant will have their
grant increased by 10%.
This additional 10% is being awarded to reflect the higher cost of living in London, and is in line
with student finance provision made by England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It will be reviewed
every year and updated as needed.
Academic requirements
From the 2023-2024 academic year onwards, students only need to demonstrate that they have an
offer of a place on an eligible higher education course and that they have a relevant income below
£200,000.
Previously, dependent students also had to prove that they had previous educational attainment in
line with the requirements set out in the order, for example two A-levels to qualify for degree
funding. Independent students were not required to demonstrate prior attainment.
All students will still need an offer from a Higher Education institution, which is based on the
institution’s expertise in assessing students’ academic ability to undertake the course.
Increase to bursary for care leavers
The Minister has also announced her intention to increase the specific bursary for care leavers
studying for a Higher Education or Further Education. This increase will reflect the increased cost of
living.
Currently care-leavers apply for Student Finance as usual. In addition, as part of a package of
support introduced in 2019, they also receive an additional £3000 bursary if they are studying for a
higher education qualification, and an additional £900 bursary if they are studying for a further
education qualification.
In line with the recent Student Finance increases, from September 2023, this will rise to £3,429 for
higher education students, and to £1029 for further education students. Further details on the
increases will be announced before September.
The changes will apply to all new and continuing students and will automatically be included when
grants are calculated, well ahead of the new academic year. This means that students do not need
to delay their application to receive the extra payment.
Applications for Student Finance
For the 2023/2024 academic year these opened on 1 January and must
be submitted by 31 December 2023. To date, Student Finance has received 390 HE1s and 650 HE2s
forms from parents and carers.
Minister for Children and Education, Deputy Inna Gardiner, said: “I continue to speak to parents,
students and the Jersey Student Loan Support Group and appreciate the increasing cost of living is
a real challenge.
“If we want an Island of highly skilled workers, we need to ensure that all students, no matter their
household income, have the option of studying for a degree. We already offer generous, meanstested, non-repayable maintenance grants. But moving to a sliding scale model will mean that
fewer students see a sudden drop off in their funding as their incomes rise.
“This is especially important for Jersey students who face additional barriers, including students
who have experience of being in care. I am proud to announce that we will also be increasing the
support they receive through the care leavers offer to reflect the additional cost of living.
“These changes mean that from September 2023 all students will either receive the same level of
grant or – in many cases – receive more. The Student Finance team will apply these changes
automatically once they’ve received an application so I would urge students and parents not to
wait and make sure that they have applied in good time.”
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