£25 Million to ease tuition fees pressures

Welsh Labour’s Education Minister Leighton Andrews today welcomed extra funding to ease the pressures on student finances.

The Welsh Assembly Government has allocated a further £25million from in-year reserves for 2010/11. 

Extra pressure in the current year has been caused by a rise in the number of students in 2009/10 and 2010/11. At the same time there was an increase in the number of students eligible for means-tested grants.

This funding is evidence of how the Labour-led Welsh Assembly Government is helping students to get the best possible start in life. Despite a difficult overall funding settlement the Assembly Government continues to have a strong commitment to Higher Education, and will be investing nearly £400 million next year.

As the Assembly Government tries to protect education spending following the worst financial settlement since the Assembly was established in 1999, this latest funding increase recognises the increase in student numbers this year.

Welsh students will not pay extra tuition fees

Welsh Labour’s Education Minister Leighton Andrews today announced that Welsh domiciled students will not have to pay extra tuition fees as the cost will be met by the Labour-led Welsh Assembly Government.

In England, basic tuition fees will rise to £6,000 per annum and Higher Education institutions will be able to charge fees up to £9,000, providing they can demonstrate a commitment to widening access and other strategic objectives. The threshold at which students have to start repaying their student loans will also increase from £15,000 to £21,000.

However, the Labour-led Welsh Assembly Government is determined to support Welsh students and has announced that Welsh domiciled students will not have to find either £6,000 or £9,000 to study. The increase in fees for Welsh domiciled students, whether they study in England or Wales or Scotland or Northern Ireland, will be paid by the Welsh Assembly Government.

So, Welsh students who go to university in 2012-13 will be paying the same in real terms as students who go to university in this academic year. In addition, Welsh domiciled students will continue to be eligible for subsidised loans to meet the costs up to the current level of tuition fee.

The announcement comes as the UK ConDem Government - including the Lib Dems who promised to oppose tuition fee increases at the General Election six months ago - plans to force students in England to pay up to £9,000 in tuition fees themselves. While the Conservatives are determined to shift the burden to students, the Labour-led Welsh Assembly Government is giving Welsh students the opportunities they deserve.