TNAG-2764-FCO40-3981-UK-Hong-Kong-Scholarship-Scheme-donation-to-the-UK-Governme-1993 — Page 81

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Student Loans.

The loans made by the Student Loans Company make no allowance for the extra weeks of study undertaken by Buckingham students in their academic years. The loans available for a conventional three year degree course are as follows:-

Year 1

£580

Year 2

£580

Year 3

£425

Total

£1,585

For Buckingham students undertaking a two year course the loans available are only:-

Year 1 £580

Year 2

£425

Total £ 1,005

If however the number of weeks study is compared the ratio would be in the ratio of approximately 92:80. The government recognises that additional weeks study involves extra costs as the maintenance payments under the Education [Mandatory Awards] Regulations are increased for periods of study in excess of 30 weeks 3 days. Therefore it would seem logical to increase the loans available to Buckingham students.

Student Loans

The position if student loans had not been introduced is probably that maintenance payments would have been increased by a percentage which would have made extra payments in monetary terms available to those claiming additional weeks.

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The Joint United Kingdom Scheme.

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Hong Kong Governments Funding

The guidance notes issued to students under the above scheme state that a student is eligible to apply if he "is on a full-time course of studies leading to the award of a first degree [ie BA, BSc etc), or a Higher National Diploma, at a University, polytechnic or college in the public sector in the United Kingdom." The use of the words "public sector" means that The University of Buckingham is excluded as it receives no direct government assistance but there would seem no reason for this discrimination.