To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many non-UK EU students studying at private universities used the Student Loan Company in the last year for which data is available.

holding answer 11 February 2014

The Student Loans Company (SLC) publishes statistics on student support expenditure in its annual publication ‘Student Support for Higher Education in England’. Statistics are disaggregated in this publication by domicile (England or EU), provider type (Public or Alternative) and student support type (Tuition Fee Loan, Maintenance Loan, Grants). The latest available statistics were published on 28 November 2013 at the following link:

http://www.slc.co.uk/statistics/national-statistics/newnationalstatistics1.aspx

In the 2012-3 academic year tuition fee loans were paid to 33,900 students¹ at English higher education providers who were domiciled in EU countries (outside of the UK) prior to their course, including 665 students at Alternative Providers.

¹ Published statistics refer to expenditure up to and including 31 August 2013. Start dates at Alternative Providers of higher education are less typical than other institutions hence further payments may occur after 31 August which is the end of the standard academic year.