Friday 30-01-2026 - 15:21

 

 

Union Assembly has backed the introduction of a new parliamentary Bill which aims to alleviate student hardship related to the timing of maintenance loan payments.

 

 
Lancaster has joined the NUS and the Students’ Unions of Manchester , UCL, Leeds, Birmingham, Exeter, Sheffield, Liverpool, Greenwich, Newcastle, Bath Spa, Durham, Derby, Bath, Buckinghamshire, Staffordshire, LANCASTER, Essex, Leeds Trinity, Chester, Royal Holloway, Bradford, Roehampton, Worcester, University of Law, Winchester, UCB, Liverpool Hope, Arts University Bournemouth, and York is supporting Luke Charters MP and his Student Finance (Review of Payment Schedules) Bill.  
 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Rory O'Ceallaigh (@lusupresident)

 
The draft Bill was created by Luke Charters, MP for York Outer, in collaboration with University of York Students’ Union. The bill aims to allow UK students to decide the frequency of their maintenance loan schedule to fit their needs – currently payments are rigidly once a Term, but this would open up the option of monthly payments. 

Increasing the flexibility of how frequently students are able to receive loan payments will be a huge first step to relieving the financial pressures students face day to day. With this review, we hope the government will be set on a track to finally find a system which is actually fit for purpose, ending the proliferation of student poverty which the current system enforces. 

You can read updates on the draft Bill in here.
You can watch the full broadcast of the debate related to the Bill in parliament here.  

 
In a letter to the Students’ Union, Luke Charters MP said: 
 

 “Over the past months, I’ve been working closely with the University of York Students’ Union to identify practical, achievable changes that would genuinely improve students’ lives. I also want to work with you more broadly on the wider cost-of-living pressures students face.  
But right now, there is one issue that stands out. 

Across the country, students are being failed by a maintenance system that pays loans termly, not in line with how real life works. This creates budgeting difficulties, pushes students towards overdrafts and credit, and generates avoidable stress.  
 

There is a particularly sharp pressure point between first and second year, when rent and deposits are often due before student finance payments arrive. For many students, especially those without family financial backing, this can be overwhelming.  
I believe this can and should change.  

Moving to a monthly payment schedule, or adjusting payment dates, could provide students with greater financial stability, reduce stress, and better reflect how living costs actually arise. I also believe students should be able to access part of their maintenance loan in advance for essential costs like rental deposits — something that would make a real difference to working-class students in particular.  
That is why I have tabled the Student Finance (Review of Payment Schedules) Bill.”