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<p>The Department for Education had forecast that 20,000 part-time maintenance loans
would be issued for the 2018-19 academic year.</p><p> </p><p>Further information can
be found in Table 2 of the publication, Student loan forecasts, England: 2017-18:</p><p><a
href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/720371/Student_loan_forecasts_2017-18_-_tables.xlsx"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/720371/Student_loan_forecasts_2017-18_-_tables.xlsx</a>.</p><p>
</p><p>In January 2019, the Student Loans Company (SLC) published early in-year data
on the payments of maintenance loans to part-time students domiciled in England. At
the end of December 2019, 2,700 students had been paid a part-time maintenance loan.</p><p>
</p><p>Further information can be found in Table 7F of the publication:</p><p><a href="https://www.slc.co.uk/official-statistics/financial-support-awarded/england-higher-education.aspx"
target="_blank">https://www.slc.co.uk/official-statistics/financial-support-awarded/england-higher-education.aspx</a>.</p><p>
</p><p>The number of part-time maintenance loans issued was lower than had been forecast
at this point in the academic year cycle and the demand for a loan product aimed at
part-time distance learners is therefore unlikely to be high enough to make the introduction
of such a loan economically viable.</p><p> </p><p>In light of this, I have decided
not to extend maintenance loans to distance leaners in academic year 2019/20. The
government remains committed to tackling the decline in part-time undergraduate higher
education. In particular, the Review of Post-18 Education and Funding is considering
how we can encourage learning that is more flexible, including part-time and distance
learning. The review will report this year.</p><p> </p><p>The SCL will publish guidance
relating to part-time maintenance in advance of the application process opening later
this year.</p><p> </p>
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