09 June 2025
Changes have been made to higher education grants for distance learning students.
The Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning, Deputy Rob Ward, has signed an
Amendment order allowing students studying through distance learning to be
eligible for maintenance grants and a higher tuition grant from September 2025,
equal to what campus-based students receive.
This follows the Ministerial Decisions signed in October 2024 and April 2025 to
increase distance learning grant thresholds and remove long-term care and hypothec
benefits from students’ income assessment. These changes have now taken effect
following the signing of the Amendment order.
The key changes are:
- Distance learning students can get up to £9,138 to help with living costs
- The maximum tuition grant will increase from £7,400 to £9,535
- Grants remain means-tested and depend on household income – the same
income thresholds apply to both distance and campus students
- For distance learners, grants will be adjusted based on how many credits they
study (study intensity)
- Grants for distance learning are only available for degree courses that are
regulated in the British Islands.
Deputy Ward said: "These changes will ensure young people studying for their
degrees off-campus are entitled to the same maintenance and tuition grants as their
campus-based peers.
"This will level the playing field and further open higher
education as a viable path for more young people in Jersey to pursue. This further
contributes towards our strategic priority to increase the provision of lifelong
learning and skills development."
For more information on the changes, please see gov.je/studentfinance.
gov.je