Thousands of students are set to benefit from newly announced increases to Higher Education maintenance loans and grants aimed at alleviating cost-of-living pressures.

Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald announced the package of measures, stating: "I fully recognise the financial pressures many students are facing and the importance of responding to these challenges, so I am taking further steps to support students with day-to-day living costs.

"For academic year 2026/27, maximum maintenance grants and loans are getting an inflationary uplift, increasing by 2.7%. This follows the significant 20% uplift to maximum maintenance loans introduced for 2025/26 which together are about helping students to stay in education and realise their potential.

"The maximum support available through the Disabled Students' Allowance will also rise by 10%, from £25,000 to £27,500, providing additional help for those who need it to access and succeed in Higher Education."

The funding boost builds on a previously announced 54% increase to the maximum Postgraduate Tuition Fee Loan for the 2026/27 academic year. During the last completed academic year (2024/25), maintenance loans totalling £153.6 million were distributed to 34,200 students. The Minister continued: "I know many students work to support their studies. My Good Jobs Bill includes a range of measures which will be particularly beneficial to students in work. It will ensure tips, gratuities and service charges are passed on in full, and it will tackle the exploitative use of zero-hours contracts by offering those who regularly work set patterns the right to move to banded hours contracts.

"I am determined to make education more affordable and accessible. By increasing maintenance support, expanding postgraduate loan provision and strengthening protections for students in work through my Good Jobs Bill, I am taking practical action to help students with the cost of living, remain in education and progress into good jobs."

The new package has been welcomed by NUS-USI, the body representing over 130,000 higher and further education students and apprentices across Northern Ireland.

NUS-USI President, Ben Friel said: "We welcome the Minister's continued focus on student cost of living pressures, and any increase in maintenance support is a step in the right direction. Students have been clear that financial pressure is one of the biggest barriers to accessing and staying in education, so additional support does matter.

"However, this must be seen as one step rather than the final answer. Many students are still being forced to work long hours, rely on hardship funds or go without essentials, and the upcoming Higher Education Funding Review must look seriously at how maintenance support can better reflect the real cost of studying and living."