Committee publication · Correspondence · 2 June 2026
Letter from Universities UK on weekend maintenance loans, dated 21.05.26
From: Education Committee
Summary
Universities UK responds to the Education Committee's inquiry into the Department for Education's abrupt withdrawal of maintenance loans for students on weekend-only courses (March 2026). UUK criticises the decision's implementation, citing ambiguous regulations, poor communication, and damage to trust. The letter outlines universities' emergency support efforts, reports significant financial pressures, and calls for reinstatement of payments, regulatory review, and a fuller parliamentary inquiry.
Key findings
- UUK members operated in good faith under longstanding interpretations of SLC guidance; distinguishing weekend in-person courses from weekday study as 'distance learning' is irrational and anachronistic.
- DfE's decision lacked adequate notice, equalities impact assessment, and early sector engagement; timing before Easter holidays compounded disruption to student support.
- Universities have deployed emergency hardship funds (one member allocated £2m) and pastoral support, but SLC payment delays and policy reversals are causing cascading operational failures and student distress.
- Nine universities have filed formal legal action against DfE and SLC, citing failure to provide clear guidance and meaningful engagement.
- SLC communication has been inconsistent, contradictory, and blamed universities unfairly; system inflexibility requires extensive manual processing, delaying maintenance payments and tuition fee releases (one member reports £12.6m withheld).
Recommendations
- DfE should instruct SLC to reinstate maintenance payments (loans and grants) for current students, including those continuing on weekend-only courses, until completion of studies.
- SLC must urgently process applications for students transferring to eligible courses and release maintenance funding with a published timeline.
- DfE should work with UUK to review regulatory framework for flexible study patterns (part-time, parental leave, weekend) to support diverse student populations.
- DfE must undertake and publish a full equalities impact assessment on withdrawal of maintenance loans, particularly regarding vulnerable and underrepresented student groups.
- Education Select Committee should carry out a fuller inquiry into lessons learned, drawing on experiences of students, universities, DfE, SLC, OfS, and NUS, with published findings.
- Urgent review needed of SLC's capacity and capability to deliver large-scale change processes and communications, particularly ahead of Lifelong Learning Entitlement rollout.
Tone
CriticalTopics
student-financehigher-educationregulatory-frameworkpublic-administration
Key actors
Universities UK (UUK), Department for Education (DfE), Student Loans Company (SLC), Education Select Committee, Office for Students (OfS), GuildHE, MillionPlus
Notable line
“DfE's haste on this issue has outstripped capacity to implement decisions, particularly within the SLC.”
Key Quotes
“… universities do not determine eligibility for student support. Affected members have interpreted the SLC guidance differently from the interpretation now set out by the DfE”
“Despite volunteering all information requested and complying with instructions from DfE, providers and their students have ended up suffering immense detriment.”
“Distinguishing between Monday to Friday versus Saturday and Sunday is irrational _______________ 2 The Education (Student Support) Regulations 2011 3 Courses Management Service user guide | HEP Services Specifically: Determining mode of study, Eligibility …”
“The withdrawal of maintenance support for students on weekend study courses has also created direct and indirect financial pressures on universities.”
“SLC communication to students has been unnecessarily critical of universities, insinuating fault on the part of the university, which risks distracting from the practical advice and support needed.”
“… we understand from our members that students on weekend-only courses are often more likely to be from underrepresented groups (including mature students) or have caring responsibilities which means the weekend option is the most 9 suitable for enabling engagement with higher education.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗