Students could be required to pass GCSE English to access university loans

University students would face minimum grade requirements to qualify for student loans in England under proposals that could in effect bar thousands of young people from higher education. Under one proposal being discussed by ministers, a pass in GCSE English would become the national threshold for students to access government-backed tuition and maintenance loans through the Student Loans Company. The change would affect more than 30,000 students each year who enrol on full-time first degree courses without formal qualifications such as GCSEs , as well as being a potential financial disaster for universities that teach large numbers of such students, often through franchise arrangements with external partners. Critics said the new regulation would mostly harm students from poorer backgrounds and non-traditional backgrounds, including those educated overseas or who struggled within the school system. Rachel Hewitt, chief executive of the MillionPlus group representing modern universities, said: “Universities are autonomous institutions, and if a student can meet their requirements, is willing to take on that investment and is assessed to be capable, MillionPlus questions why the government thinks placing additional barriers in their way is the correct way forward. “Universities already have their own checks to ensure learners can meet English language requirements on their courses and will not take on students they are not confident can succeed. …