Grade requirement for student loans would cut a financial lifeline for English universities

English universities could lose at least £200 million annually if a proposed grade requirement for student loans excludes approximately 30,000 potential students each year who lack a single GCSE. This potential financial loss comes at a time when universities are already facing squeezed budgets due to rising costs, forcing departments to cut or close. The situation is exacerbated by previous impacts, such as tougher visa restrictions that affected institutions like the University of Nottingham, which had relied heavily on international students paying higher tuition fees. While the prospect of a Labour government might have initially offered hope for improved financial stability, the current outlook suggests continued financial pressure on higher education institutions.