Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to increase the number of graduates entering into postgraduate studies from (a) Wakefield and (b) West Yorkshire.

The postgraduate master’s loan scheme was introduced in summer 2016 to help remove the financial barrier often faced by those wishing to step up to achieving a master’s level qualification and stimulate take up of postgraduate master’s study. The loan is intended as a contribution to the cost of study, rather than to specifically cover tuition fees or livings costs. Entitlement is not means-tested.

Similarly, since 2018 students have been able to apply for a loan to contribute to the costs of postgraduate doctoral study. These loans are available to all eligible students who have gained a place on an eligible programme of study.

The maximum loan amounts for the 2021/22 academic year of £11,570 for master’s study and £27,265 for doctoral study are available to all eligible students domiciled in England. Additional support is not provided for individual areas.