Higher Education: Loans and Bursaries

House of Lords written question – answered at on 4 March 2013.

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Photo of Lord Willis of Knaresborough Lord Willis of Knaresborough Liberal Democrat

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many student places at higher education courses offered by independent providers of higher education will be eligible for loans or bursaries provided by the taxpayer in (1) 2013-14, and (2) 2014-2015.

Photo of Baroness Garden of Frognal Baroness Garden of Frognal Lords Spokesperson (Department of Business, Innovation and Skills), Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

All higher education providers are independent of government. Some receive direct public funding through grants awarded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). The number of full-time home and EU undergraduate students recruited by these institutions is regulated by HEFCE, although we have begun relaxing those controls so that popular, high-quality institutions can expand in response to student choice. There are alternative providers that do not receive HEFCE grant but can be designated for student support purposes, giving their students access to loans and grants from the Student Loans Company. There is currently no limit on the number of students these providers can recruit but we have recently concluded a consultation on bringing alternative providers into the student number control system. We will announce our response to the consultation in due course.

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