The National Union of Students (NUS) has attacked the government’s decision to replace maintenance grants for the poorest students, saying it will leave them “with a lifetime of debt”. Related: Students condemn the scrapping of maintenance grantsHe said: “In the past they had about £7,500, in future they will have £8,200. Nick Hillman, director of the Higher Education Policy Institute, told the BBC that students would end up with more money in their pocket overall, despite the withdrawal of the grants. “It could put off students from underprivileged backgrounds from applying, who might not understand how the loan system works, or are very debt-averse. Speaking in January, Jo Johnson, the universities and science minister, said the maintenance grant change “helps balance the need to ensure that affordability is not a barrier to higher education, while ensuring that higher education is funded in a fair and sustainable way”.

Source: The Guardian August 01, 2016 08:47 UTC