To ask the Minister for the Economy to detail whether her Department has considered extending student finance to those privately funding studies at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies, both in relation to (i) fees; and (ii) maintenance support.

Postgraduate students, including those studying at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies at Queen’s University Belfast, are generally entitled to a tuition fee loan of up to £6,500 but do not have entitlement to maintenance grants or loans. My Department is committed to undertaking a review of higher education funding which, among other issues, will consider the merit and practicability of adjustments to the current package of student support.