Student loan changes in England ‘could imperil supply of teachers and nurses’

Less well-off young people may be put off university, hitting supply of graduates in key sectors, says review

More than two months after they were unveiled, the government's student loan changes have now been reviewed and analysed in detail, with experts concluding they will be a gamechanger for higher education in England - but not in the way ministers hope.

The long-awaited response to the Augar review of post-18 education and funding, published in February, included 40-year payback periods and higher repayment terms. While these are unlikely to stop middle-class teenagers from aiming for a degree, those from less advantaged backgrounds may hold back, imperilling the supply of graduates in key sectors such as teaching and nursing, experts have concluded.