EMPLOYMENT and Learning Minister Stephen Farry recently announced the introduction of a new ‘top-up’ tuition fee loan for part-time undergraduate higher education students.
Mr Farry said: “At the moment part-time students can access grant funding to support them with their tuition fees, but it is often not enough to cover the full cost of their tuition and it is also means tested.
In reality, most parttime students are ineligible to receive any support and the vast majority must self-fund their studies.
“Following a public consultation exercise, I am now pleased to announce a new, non means tested ‘top-up’ tuition fee loan for part-time students.
Students from lower incomes will continue to be able to access the existing grants, but they will also be able to top them up with a loan for their tuition fees should they need to.”