Loans for PhD students of up to £25,000 will be introduced from 2018-19, the government has announced. Confirmation of the timescale was disclosed in the Budget “red book” published after chancellor George Osborne’s speech on 16 March. The document also says that the government will “review the gaps in support for lifetime learning, including for flexible and part-time study”, after the dramatic decline in part-time student numbers.

Maddalaine Ansell, University Alliance chief executive, welcomed the moves on PhD loans and said: “Support for lifelong learning is essential if we are serious about boosting productivity and creating opportunity for all.”

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