Welsh Government
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Standing up for students in Wales – Leighton Andrews reaffirms commitment to Welsh student finance system
This was the message from Education Minister Leighton Andrews today as he reaffirmed the Welsh Government’s commitment to supporting Welsh students in Higher Education.
Latest forecasts suggest that the Welsh Government will provide the following funding to support students for until the end of the financial year 2016-17:
- Over £1bn for the Tuition Fee Grant;
- Over £750m for Maintenance Grants;
- Around £1.8bn for tuition fee and maintenance loans
These policies are fully costed and sustainable for the life of this Assembly.
The Minister recently announced the student finance package for higher education students entering university in the academic year 2013/14. The Welsh Government’s commitment to supporting Welsh students remains unequivocal.
From September 2013:
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the maximum tuition fee that institutions in Wales will be able to charge in the academic years 2013/14, 2014/15 and 2015/16 will be frozen at £9,000 (subject to an approved fee plan being in place);
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the maximum tuition fee loan for students ordinarily resident in Wales will increase by the rate of inflation in each academic year. For 2013/14 this will mean that the maximum loan will be £3,575;
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students will continue to be eligible for the non means tested tuition fee grant to cover the remaining element of the tuition fee.
Students starting their studies on or after the 1 September 2013 will be eligible for:
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a maximum maintenance grant of £5,161;
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a maximum maintenance loan of £5,150 (depending on household income) or £7,215 if they study in London; and.
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a partial cancellation of up to £1,500 of their maintenance loans when they start repayment.
The Minister said:
“We are committed to supporting our students wherever we can; widening access and ensuring those who are disadvantaged can access Higher Education wherever they choose to study.
“At the centre of our policy on student finance is the principle that access to higher education should be on the basis of the individual’s potential to benefit, and not on the basis of what they can afford to pay. This is why we’ve put in place what we believe is the most equitable student finance system we’ve ever created.
“It’s clear from our levels of support, in Wales, the Welsh Government is sticking up for our students to give them the best educational opportunities.”
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