Deferring this year

If you're deferring entry to university until 2008, some of you can breathe a little. Why? Because around 150,000 more students can now get full or partial grants.

Students starting university in 2008

If you are starting university next year (academic year 2008/09) or you have deferred entry from 2007/08, there's good news - you could be entitled to more money to get you through years of student hardship.

 The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills has announced that students from low-income backgrounds of £25,000 or less, compared to the previous threshold of £17,910, will be eligible for a full grant of up to £2,765. So for a student from a household of £25,000 a year earnings, this will mean an extra £1,100 a year in maintenance grant. For a student from a family on £40,000 a year, it will mean an extra £1,000 a year.

Once you have graduated and are earning more than £15,000 per year, you will be expected to start repaying your fees. But more good news - if you're deferring uni to 2008/09 you can take a 'repayment holiday' of up to five years.

Wales and Scotland

Scottish students studying at Scottish universities don't pay tuition fees. Instead you'll have to pay a graduate endowment (currently £2,092) after graduation.  However, Scottish students studying in England will have to pay top-up fees, but will be eligible for a loan.

English and Welsh students studying at Scottish universities will pay approximately £2,000 a year in fees, payable after graduation. Universities in Wales and Northern Ireland will charge students £1,200 a year from 2006, to be paid back after graduation.