The government’s deadline for scrapping grants for new bachelor degree students has been extended from 2014 to 2015, education minister Jet Bussemaker said in a parliamentary briefing.

However, the new rules will come into effect for masters students in 2014 as planned, the minister said.

The minister said in a statement the delay will give school leavers more time to adjust to the new situation.

The Liberal-Labour government wants to replace all grants by loans, although the very poorest students would still get some help. Live-out students currently get around €260 a month from the state to help pay for their education. The rest they can borrow.

However, the delay is likely to be related to the lack of support for the changes in the upper house of parliament, political commentators say.

A majority of senators are not prepared to support the plan unless the government offers concessions on student travel cards and on extra investment in education.