§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proportion of higher education students had independent status in each of the past five years. [155873]
§ Mr. Wicks [holding answer 28 March 2001]In England and Wales students eligible for support under the Education (Mandatory Awards) Regulations or the Education (Student Support) Regulations were assessed for contribution on the basis of the income of, for dependent students, themselves and/or their parents and, for independent students, themselves and/or their spouse.
The proportion of students who had independent status in each of the past five years is shown in the table.
Percentage Proportion of eligible students with Academic Years Independent Status1 1994–95 23 1995–96 23 1996–97 22 1997–98 21 1998–99 Mandatory Awards Scheme students2 18 Student Support Scheme students3 19 All students 18 1Independent students are assessed for a contribution towards support based on their own income and that of their spouse. A student is regarded as independent if he/she is aged 25 or over on the first day of the academic year for which they are applying; if both parents have died; if he/she has been self-supporting from earnings for 3 years; or if he/she is irreconcilably estranged from his/her parents. 2Students who entered higher education up to 1997–98 and those who entered in 1998–99 to whom existing arrangements applied. 3Students starting their course in 1998–99 under the new arrangements. Data include an estimated 600 students who, because they did not expect to receive a contribution to their fees from public funds, did not make an application to their authority. Source
F503G survey