More students to receive grants

More students from poorer families in England are to receive full grants for university living costs.

Students whose families earn less than £25,000 a year will get a full grant - up from the present level of £18,000.

Those in families earning up to £60,000 a year will now get some form of maintenance grant.

The Secretary of State for Innovations, Universities and Skills, John Denham, said the changes meant a "major increase in support to students".

Students in England and Northern Ireland have been liable for tuition fees of £3,000 a year since last September.

The fees are not paid up front by the students, but are covered by a student loan which is paid back once a graduate's earnings reach £15,000 a year.