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.
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