Guernsey States approves UK University grant funding

Funding to support Guernsey students attending higher education in the UK has been approved until 2014.

The Education Department has spent £6.5m a year since 2006 on grants to help towards the cost of tuition fees, living costs and travel expenses.

Some university fees in England will go up to £9,000 a year in September.

The States has agreed a real terms increase in the grant budget for 2013 to cover the increase, estimated at about £280,000.

The Treasury and Resources Department said when the States discussed funding for 2014 and beyond there was a possibility parents would be asked to make a larger contribution to student fees.

Education Minister Robert Sillars said negotiations with Universities UK, which represents higher education institutes in the UK, had reduced the cost impact on the island.

He said: "We are very pleased only one university from the 120 regularly used by Guernsey students has suggested a fee structure for the island students which is higher than the funding the university would receive for a home student on the same course.

"Negotiations with UK universities are continuing with a view to consolidating these agreements into a permanent agreement as the aforementioned arrangements are for one year only."