Students in Northern Ireland to get higher loans and grants as living costs bite

Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald has announced further measures to support students. The additional support has been welcomed by NUS-USI President (pictured) Ben Friel.

Thousands of students across Northern Ireland are set to receive increased financial support next year as the Executive moves to ease mounting cost-of-living pressures facing those in higher education.

Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald has announced a package of measures for the 2026/27 academic year which will see maintenance loans and grants rise by 2.7%, alongside a major increase in support available through the Disabled Students’ Allowance.

The changes come amid continuing concern over the financial strain facing students, many of whom are balancing study with part-time work, rising rents, travel costs and everyday living expenses.

In the last completed academic year alone, maintenance loans totalling £153.6 million were paid to 34,200 students in Northern Ireland.

How much student support is increasing

Under the changes announced by the Department for the Economy, maximum maintenance loan support for full-time undergraduate students domiciled in Northern Ireland will increase as follows:

• Students living at home: from £6,300 to £6,471

• Students living away from home: from £8,132 to £8,352

• Students studying in London: from £11,391 to £11,699

Students eligible for maintenance grants on top of their loans will also see the maximum grant rise from £3,475 to £3,569.

The Department also confirmed the maximum Disabled Students’ Allowance will rise by 10%, increasing from £25,000 to £27,500.

Earlier this year, ministers also announced a substantial rise in the Postgraduate Tuition Fee Loan for 2026/27, increasing from £6,500 to £10,000 — a 54% jump aimed at improving access to postgraduate study.

Minister says students are under financial pressure

Announcing the measures, Dr Archibald said she recognised the growing pressure many students are facing as the cost of living continues to impact households across Northern Ireland.

She said:

“I fully recognise the financial pressures many students are facing and the importance of responding to these challenges, so I am taking further steps to support students with day-to-day living costs.

“For academic year 2026/27, maximum maintenance grants and loans are getting an inflationary uplift, increasing by 2.7%. This follows the significant 20% uplift to maximum maintenance loans introduced for 2025/26 which together are about helping students to stay in education and realise their potential.”

The Minister added:

“The maximum support available through the Disabled Students’ Allowance will also rise by 10%, from £25,000 to £27,500, providing additional help for those who need it to access and succeed in Higher Education.”

She also linked the student support measures to wider employment reforms proposed under her forthcoming Good Jobs Bill.

Dr Archibald said many students rely on part-time employment to support themselves through university and college.

“My Good Jobs Bill includes a range of measures which will be particularly beneficial to students in work,” she said.

“It will ensure tips, gratuities and service charges are passed on in full, and it will tackle the exploitative use of zero-hours contracts by offering those who regularly work set patterns the right to move to banded hours contracts.

“I am determined to make education more affordable and accessible. By increasing maintenance support, expanding postgraduate loan provision and strengthening protections for students in work through my Good Jobs Bill, I am taking practical action to help students with the cost of living, remain in education and progress into good jobs.”

Student leaders welcome move but warn pressures remain

The package has been welcomed by NUS-USI, which represents more than 130,000 students and apprentices across Northern Ireland’s higher and further education sector.

NUS-USI President Ben Friel said the increases would help students struggling with day-to-day costs but warned that many remain under severe financial pressure.

He said:

“We welcome the Minister’s continued focus on student cost of living pressures, and any increase in maintenance support is a step in the right direction. Students have been clear that financial pressure is one of the biggest barriers to accessing and staying in education, so additional support does matter.

“However, this must be seen as one step rather than the final answer. Many students are still being forced to work long hours, rely on hardship funds or go without essentials, and the upcoming Higher Education Funding Review must look seriously at how maintenance support can better reflect the real cost of studying and living.”

Cost-of-living pressures continue to shape student experience

The announcement comes as universities and student organisations continue to report growing concern around accommodation costs, food prices, transport expenses and the increasing number of students taking on significant employment alongside their studies.

For many students from Northern Ireland, maintenance support plays a critical role in determining whether higher education remains financially viable, particularly for those relocating away from home or studying in Britain.

The latest increases will apply for the 2026/27 academic year.