Starting in 2025, more families in Jersey will qualify for the largest available government grant to help cover university living costs, the education minister has announced.
Currently, only families with annual incomes below £50,000 are eligible for full maintenance grants, a limit unchanged since 2018 despite rising living costs due to inflation.
This change follows a public appeal by a Jersey parent who expressed concerns that their child might need to rely on a food bank at university because the existing grant fails to cover all living expenses.
Deputy Rob Ward confirmed that, pending government approval in November's budget, the income threshold will increase by 5.2% in September 2025. Ward noted that the thresholds are set based on Jersey’s average incomes and will be reviewed annually.
The Jersey Student Loan Support group welcomed the increase, calling it “a start toward addressing the threshold,” but highlighted that it remains over 31% below where it ideally should be.