Commenting on the Education Secretary’s announcement of targeted maintenance grants for students to be reintroduced, Robbie Cruikshanks, Senior Researcher (Higher Education) at EPI, said:
“The government’s announcement of the reintroduction of targeted maintenance grants for students from low-income households is a positive step towards widening access to higher education, amid growing evidence that the cost of living is impacting the most disadvantaged students. Our analysis has shown stalled progress in narrowing the disadvantage access gap, alongside increasing numbers of students choosing to live either in their own accommodation or with parents.
“But the success of this policy will depend on the detail. The choice of ‘priority courses’ must be handled carefully to avoid creating a two-tier system in which only wealthier students can access certain degrees, deepening inequality rather than reducing it. Equally, eligibility must be broad and meaningful enough to provide real support for disadvantaged students, while ensuring that the funding model – including any knock-on effects on international student fees – does not undermine the financial stability of universities.”
