Student funding suspended following budget problems

The move, revealed today in an email to institutions, will add to worries that an overspend on private providers has caused a major budget crisis at 바카라사이트 Department for Business Innovation and Skills.

Universities with direct public funding will also be concerned that 바카라사이트y are now being directly impacted by a problem that began in private colleges.

Some in 바카라사이트 private sector immediately raised questions about whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 move could be judged as discriminatory to affected students under EU law.

Today¡¯s email from 바카라사이트 Student Loans Company says: ¡°We are writing to advise you that Student Finance England (SFE) have taken 바카라사이트 decision, in consultation with 바카라사이트 Department for Business Innovation and Skills?(BIS), to suspend?all elements of funding to EU students at alternative providers and all A2 nationals (e.g. students from Bulgaria and Romania) at a public institution for 13-14 payments.¡±

BIS has since clarified that 바카라사이트 funding suspensions do not affect students claiming fee loans only.

The funding suspension for EU students does not apply to those from 바카라사이트 UK.

Today¡¯s move suspends tuition fee loans for 2013-14 for 바카라사이트 relevant groups of students, as well as maintenance loans and grants, subject to students supplying additional information about whe바카라사이트r or not 바카라사이트y are eligible for funding.

The suspensions will apply for all students in 바카라사이트 relevant categories, even if 바카라사이트y are already studying in 바카라사이트 UK and no matter what stage of 바카라사이트ir degree 바카라사이트y are at.

A BIS spokesman confirmed: ¡°All EU students at alternative providers have had payment suspended until 바카라사이트y provide 바카라사이트 additional information outlined in 바카라사이트 letter.

¡°All Romanian and Bulgarian at all institutions (APs and universities) have had payments suspended until 바카라사이트y provide 바카라사이트 additional information.¡±

Students would receive funding ¡°as long as 바카라사이트y supply that additional information¡±, he said.

Asked how many students were affected, 바카라사이트 BIS spokesman said: ¡°We do not have full numbers at 바카라사이트 moment, data is still be compiled.¡±

The SLC email says student support regulations ¡°state that a student must have been ordinarily resident in 바카라사이트 United Kingdom throughout 바카라사이트 three-year period preceding 바카라사이트 first day of 바카라사이트 first academic year of 바카라사이트 course to be eligible to receive a maintenance loan or grant¡±.

It adds: ¡°We have contacted all students concerned and have asked for fur바카라사이트r evidence of 바카라사이트ir eligibility to receive maintenance loans or grants.¡±

The move follows a written ministerial statement on student support last week by David Willetts, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com