Student grants to be frozen

Student grants and loans will be frozen next year as a result of the recession, Higher Education Minister David Lammy announced yesterday.

However, the maximum level of top-up fee will rise in line with inflation (2.04 per cent) to £3,290 a year. Mr Lammy said: “It is important we make decisions in the interests of students, universities and taxpayers alike, particularly in tough times.”

The decision follows figures showing more students from poor backgrounds are going to university than ever before - up to 21 per cent from 18.1 per cent of the student population.