Rise in thresholds

Universities may have to tweak their 2006 fee and bursary plans after the Government changed the thresholds for students claiming financial support.

In the latest earnings data, the Government increased the level of family income at which students can claim a full maintenance grant from £15,200 to £17,051. The threshold for claiming a partial grant has also been raised from a family income of £33,000 to £37,425.

David Barrett of the Office for Fair Access said the regulator had advised universities that their access agreements might need to be updated, but stressed changes would be "minimal".