Closed petition: Postgraduate loans for tuition fees should not count as income for benefits

Closed on 6 September 2025

Change the way postgraduate loans are paid, for there to be an option for the loan to be paid directly to the University, with an option of separate tuition and maintenance loans.

We feel this would make it fair on people who receive benefits that want to study at postgraduate level, as the loan counts as income.

The postgraduate loan counting as income means that people on benefits will deducted money monthly despite the fact that most postgraduate loans only cover tuition fees. We feel that if there was an option for people to select from tuition fee loan and a maintenance loan, as with undergraduate loans, this would enhance inclusion. Additionally if tuition loans are paid directly to the University this means people receiving benefits will not be deducted money and therefore able to study at postgraduate level.