The Association of London Government has joined forces with and London Aimhigher to publish a quick and easy guide to financial support and advice for students going to university or higher education colleges.

The guide will be distributed to students by their local education authorities, schools and further education colleges as well as by Aimhigher co-ordinators and local voluntary organisations.

Written by ALG education policy officer Jonathan Slater and by John Hall, Director of London Aimhigher, the guide has been published on the internet and in a short easy-to-follow leaflet that gives details of different forms of financial support that will be available when students enter Higher Education next year.

Changes introduced by the Government will alter the current system of funding and charges for students going into higher education in 2006, with universities and colleges able to charge up to £3,000 a year in tuition fees, along with new student grants for lower income families and an extended loan scheme .

The guide provides a short summary of fees, loans, grants and bursaries along with details of specialist support and allowances available to students, as well as advice on transport costs and help available for part-time and Open University students.

Young people who go to university or college in London generally face higher living costs than in other parts of the country but can also take advantage of a wide range of travel concessions offered by Transport for London. There are also specialist support services available to students with restricted mobility.

The guide includes contact details covering a wide range of different advice and support organisations in London that have helped compile the information for students and its publication will coincide with a national campaign by the Department for Education and Skills to explain the new fee structure and different levels of student support.