To ask the Minister for the Economy to detail and explain the difference in the size of maintenance grants given to Northern Irish students studying in Great Britain compared to students from Great Britain also studying in Great Britain.

My Department provides a means tested, non-repayable maintenance grant to eligible Northern Ireland domiciled students through Student Finance NI up to the value of £3,475 for the 2020/21 academic year.

England provide a means tested, non-repayable maintenance grant of up to £3,489 for students whose courses commenced before 1 August 2016. No maintenance grant is provided for students whose courses commenced after this date.

Wales provide the Welsh Government Learning Grant, a means tested, non-repayable grant providing up to £10,124 for the 2020/21 academic year.

Scotland do not provide a specific maintenance grant product, but do provide a means tested, non-repayable bursary of up to £2,000 to eligible students.

The difference between the availability and level of maintenance grants for students across the UK is a direct result of the devolved nature of higher education, which allows the regions to develop their own student support products in response to the needs of their students, their Higher Education sector, and the budget available to them.