Deferred benefits

Students due to start university this autumn who defer entry until next year will benefit from Government reforms to student financial support that come into effect in 2008. Last month, Universities Secretary John Denham announced a £400 million expansion of the student grant system, giving full-time students a full grant of £2,825 if their family income is £25,000 a year or less, up from the current threshold of £17,500. Higher Education Minister Bill Rammell last week confirmed that the package would be available to students who deferred entry from September.