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The Department of Education in Northern Ireland has announced an increase in the maintenance loan that students can take out towards living costs, which is expected to ease the financial burden faced by many students. Conor Murphy, who has made the decision to increase the loan by 20% and cost his department around £50m, has contested the current Irish Seanad election and will quit Stormont if elected. The change will become effective from September 2025. The majority of students take out two loans – one to pay tuition fees and the other to help with living costs, such as rent, travel, food and study materials.
The current annual amount that can be borrowed by students will rise from £5,250 to £6,300 for those living at home, while those living away from home will see an increase from £6,776 to £8,132. Moreover, Northern Ireland students from less well-off backgrounds may be eligible to receive a separate maintenance grant of up to £3,475, depending on their household income. The increase in the maintenance loan may lead to more debt for students, as is the case with other student loans, which have to be paid back after students start working post-graduation. The total student loan debt owed in Northern Ireland is already over £5bn.
Murphy has stated that supporting students is crucial because they are the ones who will create wealth for the future. He emphasized that if students are forced to work multiple jobs to carry out their studies, it puts enormous pressure on young people who should be able to enjoy their university experience before they enter the working world. The maintenance loan has long been set at different levels for those living in their parents’ homes or renting accommodation.
Given the current cost-of-living crisis across society, the rise in the maintenance loan has been welcomed by students who are struggling to get by on the current amounts. The annual tuition fee for students at university in Northern Ireland is £4,750 per year compared to up to £9,250 per year elsewhere in the UK. While officials at the Department for the Economy had previously considered the financial impact of raising tuition fees to generate income, any change would require the approval of the assembly and the executive
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