Student plans under scrutiny

Students can expect to pay up to £3,145 a year in tuition fees in 2008/9 Watch: Minister quizzed

The government is launching an information campaign today aimed at making students aware of the financial help available to them.

Changes to the student finance rules in England mean an extra 100,000 youngsters will receive help to go to university.

From next year the government will extend means testing so that students with parents earning up to £60,005 will receive a partial student grant.

STUDENTS STARTING IN 2008 Parental income under £25,000 - FULL GRANT Income between £25,001 & £60,005 - PARTIAL GRANT Income in excess of £60,005 - NO GRANT

Under the current system grants are only available to those with parental incomes under £39,305.

During the academic year 2008/9 the value of a full grant will be £2,835.

Grants are paid in addition to the student loans available to cover tuition fees and living costs.

The government recently reintroduced grants after scrapping them in its first student funding reforms in 1998.

Different rules apply for Welsh and Scottish students - please follow the links to the right of this page.

EXISTING STUDENTS Parental income under £18,360 - FULL GRANT Income between £18,261 & £39,305 - PARTIAL GRANT Income in excess of £39,305 - NO GRANT

On today's programme we quizzed the minister in charge, Bill Rammell MP about the government's plans.

If you missed the interview you can watch it again on our broadband player after 4pm.