University tuition fees in Wales set to rise for first time in a decade
The cap on tuition fees for university students in Wales is set to increase for the first time in more than a decade from September.
The maximum amount universities can charge per year for an undergraduate degree will increase by 2.8% from £9,000 to £9,250, Welsh education minister Jeremy Miles announced on Tuesday.
At the same time, the Welsh government is set to replace postgraduate grants with a fully repayable loan.
The move has raised fears among opposition members of the Senedd that people will be “costed out of education”.
It comes as the Welsh government struggles to balance its budget for the next year, with cuts set to be made in a range of areas.
Inflationary pressure
The education minister said: “We have resisted calls to raise the tuition fee cap in the past, but sustained inflationary pressure on higher education providers in Wales means an increase is now unavoidable.”
The increase, which is the first since 2011, raises the cap to the same level already charged in England, Northern Ireland and Scotland.
Loans to cover the fees will increase by the same amount.
The government does not set course fees, only the maximum that can be charged.
Mr Miles also described the decision to scrap grants for postgraduate students and replace it with a fully repayable loan as a “difficult” one.
‘Dire situation’
Plaid Cymru’s spokeswoman for education in the Senedd Heledd Fychan MS has criticised the decision
She said: “The decision to increase tuition fees and scrap grants currently available to postgraduate Masters students will cost too many people out of education, adding to the skills gap currently impacting so many sectors in Wales and the Welsh economy more broadly.
“Our universities are in a dire situation. Rather than investing in them, we are seeing the Labour Government making it more difficult for students from Wales to study in Wales.
“I will be seeking urgent clarity from the Welsh Government regarding these cuts, and how they will work with universities to safeguard their futures as well as the futures of young people in Wales.”
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This is not the way to equip Cymru for an independent future. Nor is it the sign of strong leadership for all the young people needed in the years to come to populate a thriving, healthy and wholesome nation…
But if they are content to remain in hock to Westminster and see an exodus of our most able young people it does not surprise me…
Time to ensure that only those students choosing to study in Welsh Universities should receive the grant. If they wish to study in England they should pay English levels of tuition fees and not be subsidised. This would also ensure that the Welsh Government doesn’t help subsidise English Universities.
Isn’t it just a loan these days though anyway?
Totally agree Welsh students who study in English Universities should pay full English fees after all they get a superior education.
Complete nonsense
If you reside in Scotland and choose to study full-time at a Scottish university or college, will not have to pay tuition fees. How ironic then is it that we in Wales, deemed one of the poorest parts of the UK, our universities are increasing their tuition fees from £9,000 to £9,250, meaning those who graduate will be in debt to the tune of £30,000 unless they choose two career paths. Either find a position that earns less money meaning they won’t meet the threshold to repay back their fees wasting hard-earned qualifications we desperately need, or leave Wales entirely… Read more »
Thank goodness I went to university in Wales when fees were only £900-1300 a year!
An excellent development. With most Welsh students studying in England (and paying English rate fees), and the majority of the students at Welsh institutions from England (paying Welsh rate fees), this means a modest profit for the Welsh Government. Please, please will contributors to this website read Orwell’s Animal Farm, and Caradoc Evans’s My People, and grown up.
Young people betrayed by the political elites again. Is it any wonder so many don’t see a future for themselves in this country? For shame!
The amount for accommodation an fees is staggering already with mediocre teaching compared to England learning. My eldest daughter studied in England colleges an Universities finance at the time was £8.000 accommodation she stayed with family luckily My youngest recently had to defer her second year due to stress she’s covered same stuff she’s done in college for past 2 years plus its impossible for her to manage with accommodation at 4k term leaving her approx £1.50 daily for everything else and she’s not only one there’s few from her old school an college whom has had to also defer… Read more »