Committee publication · Correspondence · 16 June 2026

Letter to Secretary of State for Education on Weekend maintenance loans dated 11.06.26

Summary

The Education Committee writes to the Secretary of State for Education expressing concern about the weekend maintenance loans issue affecting students. The letter summarises evidence from the NUS, Universities UK, the Office for Students, and others, highlighting contradictory views on eligibility rules clarity, accountability disputes, severe student impact including mental health consequences, and implementation failures. The Committee seeks clarification on how students will be protected and questions the appropriateness of classifying weekend courses as distance learning.

Key findings

Sector bodies contest the Department's claim that maintenance loan eligibility rules for weekend provision are clear; Universities UK reports providers interpreted SLC guidance differently from DfE's current position
NUS survey of 310 students found 42 respondents considering or have dropped out due to finances, with multiple students expressing thoughts of suicide and self-harm; described as 'catastrophic effect on students' finances, academics and wellbeing'
Department and SLC blame providers for incorrectly recording weekend courses as in-attendance rather than distance learning; sector argues institutions acted in good faith and differences may require legal clarification
Implementation and communication failures: students given limited time and information for consequential decisions; Universities UK reports poor communication caused unnecessary difficulty and DfE's actions against providers 'severely damaged trust'
Department confirmed maintenance loan overpayments will be recovered through Income Contingent Repayment; recovery of targeted grants paused until next academic year; significant uncertainty remains about childcare grant liability

Tone

Critical

Topics

student-financehigher-educationadministrative-failuresaccess-and-participation

Key actors

Helen Hayes MP, Bridget Phillipson MP, National Union of Students, Universities UK, Office for Students, Student Loans Company, Southampton Solent University, Department for Education

Notable line

“… the Committee is particularly concerned to ensure that students are not penalised for administrative failures beyond their control.”

Key Quotes

“… providers "have interpreted the SLC guidance differently from the interpretation now set out by DfE", and that the regulations "are ambiguous in some areas."”
— Universities UK · on clarity of eligibility rules for weekend maintenance loans

“… a catastrophic effect on students' finances, academics and wellbeing.”
— National Union of Students · describing consequences of the maintenance loan eligibility issue

“"multiple students expresse d thoughts of suicide and self- harm " …”
— National Union of Students · reporting impacts on affected students from their survey of 310 respondents

“Student Finance England have been extremely reckless in their enforcement of this withdrawal.”
— National Union of Students · on the Department's handling of the maintenance loan eligibility enforcement

“… students were given very little time to take consequential decisions with limited information available”
— Universities UK · on implementation and communication failures

“"the way DfE has taken action against provi ders" has "severely damaged trust." Southampton Solent …”
— Universities UK · on consequences of Department's implementation approach

“"no coherent explanation for why courses delivered during the week are deemed eligible for student finance, while courses offering the same – or, in some cases …”
— Southampton Solent University · questioning the logic of eligibility criteria for weekend versus weekday courses

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Source · parliament.uk record ↗