STUDENTS going to universities in the UK will have to help pay their way under tighter rules brought in by Tynwald in April.

Tynwald approved the changes, started in September, which mean that students will now need to gain higher marks to qualify for funding from the government.

The move to change the rules was carried unanimously despite some MHKs expressing misgivings about how students who choose a course longer than three years would be affected.

Undergraduates who choose a course which lasts more than three years such as medicine, dentistry, and architecture, will be asked to contribute up to £1,000 for each additional year.

Students wishing to do a postgraduate course would have to achieve a 2:1 degree to qualify for support.

Education Minister Eddie Teare said the move was not a result of the Island losing money due to the revised VAT agreement and believes the contributions students will be asked to make will still represent a small percentage of the overall costs.

The proposed changes went out to public consultation in December 2009.