DEVELOPING: Maintenance Grants to Be Restored for Thousands of Students Amid Urgent Need.

BREAKING NEWS Maintenance Grants to Be Restored for Thousands of Students by 2029, Education Secretary Announces Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has confirmed that maintenance grants will return for tens of thousands of university students in England by 2029. The grants will target students from lower-income households studying priority courses that support the industrial strategy and Labour's mission to renew Britain. The new grants will be funded by a tax on international student fees, which will apply only to higher education providers in England. This move is expected to have an immediate impact on thousands of students who rely on maintenance grants to fund their living costs while studying. Maintenance grants were phased out in 2016 as part of government austerity measures. The reintroduction of the grants marks a significant shift in policy, with the government acknowledging the need for financial support for lower-income students. Universities UK has expressed concerns about the funding model, stating that universities already contribute significantly to government priorities and should be considered for greater public investment. This is a developing story, and further details on which courses will qualify for the grants are expected in the coming weeks. The Education Secretary has promised regular updates as the policy takes shape. This is a developing story. We will provide updates as more information becomes available. *This is a developing story. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available. Based on reporting from Bbc.*