Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al-Saadi: There were concerns that Lahham would be placed under administrative detention.
Al-Saadi: The Israeli occupation authorities could not prove any allegations leveled against Nasser Lahham.
Lawyer Oussama al-Saadi: The oppressive Israeli measures of delaying Lahham's release had vengeful motives.
Nasser Lahham's lawyer said the journalist was released without any conditions or restrictions, adding that the conditions in which he was kept were terrible.
The Israeli occupation authorities release Al Mayadeen Palestine bureau chief Nasser al-Lahham.
Local Syrian sources: An Israeli airstrike targeted a tank and artillery battalion in the city of Izraa in the Daraa countryside
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in eastern Lebanon: 12 martyrs and 5 wounded in Israeli raids targeting the outskirts of Wadi Fa'ra in the northern Bekaa Valley
Local Syrian sources: More than 10 Israeli raids targeted Sweida, with information about more than five casualties from the Internal Security Forces
Local Syrian sources: Initial reports indicate that approximately 15 people were killed or wounded at the al-Radwan family's guest house in Sweida following a direct exchange of gunfire
Israeli media, citing Israeli political sources, reported that the Shas movement is expected to withdraw from the government within less than 24 hours

UK graduate loan reforms benefitting richer students than low-earners

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 14 May 2023 10:33
4 Min Read

In light of these changes becoming more politicized, Labour leader Keir Starmer confirmed that he withdrew from his pledge to abolish tuition fees, but asserted that the Labour party will “set out a fairer solution” in the coming weeks.

  • x
  • FILE PHOTO: Warwick University graduates on the day of their graduation ceremony in Warwick, Britain on July 17, 2017 (Reuters)
    Warwick University graduates during a graduation ceremony in Warwick, Britain on July 17, 2017. (Reuters)

New research shows that the UK's student loan reforms will serve to benefit the country's best-paid graduates but at the expense of educators, nursing graduates, and other lower- and middle-income earners.

Because of one of the biggest reforms for more than a decade, those who earn lower wages struggle to face an increase in their total lifetime repayments of more than £30,000 ($37,378). However, graduates who are the highest-earning graduates will witness lifetime repayments fall on average by £25,000 ($31,148) according to an analysis by the economic consultancy London Economics.

The research predicts that by 2030, a graduate earning £37,000 would pay back £63,100 ($78,619) during their career, as opposed to a graduate earning £70,000 ($87,216) who would pay back just £55,000 ($68,527).

Senior partner at London Economics, Gavan Conlon, explains, “This is effectively a massive subsidy to predominantly white, predominantly male graduates. It’s deeply regressive.”

Royal College of Nursing director for England, Patricia Marquis, called the reforms "a disgrace and will blatantly disproportionately affect nursing staff."

"It means nurses will be paying back their student debt sooner, more of it, and for longer. At a time when there is a recruitment and retention crisis in the NHS, this will only exacerbate it.”

Read more: UK nurses set to strike until Christmas: Union leader

Recently, and in light of these changes becoming more politicized, Labour leader Keir Starmer confirmed that he withdrew from his pledge to abolish tuition fees, but asserted that the Labour Party will “set out a fairer solution” in the coming weeks.

Related News

Professors being fired from jobs for pro-Palestine speech, solidarity

In 6 months, more US college students blame 'Israel' for Oct. 7: Poll

This comes as young voters are now turning away from the Tory party as they struggle in the cost-of-living crisis and high inflation. 

According to the government’s own impact assessment, the student loan reforms are predicted to have a “negative impact” on groups such as women, lower earners and those from disadvantaged backgrounds. 

'Reforms will entrench inequality'

This month, the Welsh government announced that the reforms won't be enforced despite historically aligning its student support system with England, saying that the measures would “disproportionately” impact women graduates and “benefit the highest earners”.

Chief executive of the Intergenerational Foundation, Liz Emerson, said, “These reforms will entrench inequality. The only winners will be the best-paid graduates.”

New loan arrangements for students have been set back in February 2022 by ministers to take effect on August 1 this year, as the reforms extend the repayment period from 30 to 40 years while cutting the salary threshold at which payments are made to £25,000 and interest rates reduced on the repayment of the loan to retail price index (RPI) inflation.

Ministers believe this move will increase the number of graduates who pay off their loans in their which cuts taxpayer support for student loans from 44p in the pound to as low as 23p in the pound. Figures estimated by London Economics say the average debt of first-degree graduates on graduation is about £50,800. 

Chloe Field, vice president for higher education at the National Union of Students, said: “This is yet more evidence the current system is failing students, and society more widely. On top of the pitiful maintenance loan increases, which have failed to keep pace with inflation, and have left students at the mercy of the cost of living crisis, we believe a major overhaul is needed.”

A Department for Education spokesperson said: “It is important that we have a sustainable student finance system that is fair to students and taxpayers."

“Through these reforms, more than half of borrowers will repay their loans in full, compared to the current rate of 20%... To help students who need further support, we have made an additional £15m available, increasing our student premium funding to £276m this academic year.”

  • University
  • Student Loans
  • Nurses
  • graduates
  • UK
  • United Kingdom

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025
This satellite image from Planet Labs PBC shows damage after an Iranian attack at the al Udeid Airbase outside of Doha, Qatar, June 25, 2025 (Planet Labs PBC via AP)

Satellite images show Iran attack damaged US comms dome in Qatari base

  • Politics
  • 11 Jul 2025
An Israeli soldier abandons an excavator during an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades. Arabic text reads "The moment the soldier fled", July, 10, 2025 (Al Qassam Military Media)

Israeli media rue al-Qassam footage, alarmed by fighters among troops

  • Politics
  • 11 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Syrian government forces deploy at the Mazraa village on the outskirts of city of Sweida, where clashes erupted between Bedouin clans and Druze factions, southern Syria, Monday, July 14, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Gulf-backed negotiations underway in Syria's Sweida to end clashes

UN: 798 Palestinians killed while trying to reach aid in Gaza
Palestine

UN: 798 Palestinians killed while trying to reach aid in Gaza

A damaged car is seen at a field that was hit in an Israeli airstrike in Nabi Sheet village, in Lebanon's eastern Bekaa Valley, Wednesday, August 21, 2024 (AP)
Politics

Hezbollah condemns Israeli Bekaa massacre, urges action from Lebanon

Palestinians walk next to the closed humanitarian aid distribution center of UNRWA, the UN agency helping Palestinian refugees in Jabaliya, Gaza Strip, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Israeli regime cuts electricity, water supplies to UNRWA Gaza offices

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS