From 11 December 2017 to 12 January 2018, Jersey students, parents and the public can have their say about a new university funding proposal from the Council of Ministers.
It is similar to the current grant system but with higher income allowances so that more young people can get financial help from the States of Jersey. This will apply to all eligible students studying for a degree from September 2018 – first, second and third years.
What this means for families
Most of the elements of the existing grant scheme will stay the same. You can find the details online at gov.je but the main points are:
- The extra fees for doctor, dentist and vet courses will be covered by an extra grant.
- The grant will still be available if you study for a degree in Jersey or take a recognised qualification at an overseas university outside the UK.
- If your family has assets (not including your family home) of more than £500,000 you will get the same as those in the £150,000 bracket. Examples are property or shares.
Under the new model, the maximum maintenance grant would be increased by £500 to £6,500, and the full amount would be available to families with an annual household income of under £50,000. Those with £95,000 or less would also receive a portion of the maintenance grant to help with living expenses.
What happens next?
The public consultation will aim to:
- Inform the public and explain the proposal as it currently stands.
- Seek a mandate and gauge the level of support for the proposal.
- Collect comment, giving islanders an opportunity to submit their views and feed back to the Council of Ministers.
People can comment through a short online survey at: https://survey.gov.je/s/unifunding
Before and after Christmas, there will be drop-in events at the Jersey Library in St Helier where officers from the Education Department and the Treasury will be available to answer questions. These are scheduled for:
Monday 18 December – 10am to 3pm
Tuesday 19 December – 5pm to 7.30pm
Friday 05 January – 11am to 4pm
Saturday 06 January – 9am to 4pm
A report on the consultation responses will be produced early in 2018 and a proposition with the final option will be taken to the States as soon as possible after that.
More information about the new funding proposals and the public consultation can be found in these linked documents: