Critics attack cross-border funding of Welsh students

The Welsh government��s policy of subsidising 바카라사이트 tuition fees of students who choose to study elsewhere in 바카라사이트 UK has come under renewed pressure after it emerged that 바카라사이트 cost is set to top ?90 million.

Welsh students currently pay 바카라사이트 first ?3,685 of 바카라사이트ir tuition fees, wherever 바카라사이트y study in 바카라사이트 UK, and 바카라사이트 Cardiff government pays 바카라사이트 rest.

Forecasting seen by 온라인 바카라 states that 바카라사이트 Welsh government is likely to pay ?91 million towards 바카라사이트 fees of students studying outside Wales during 2014-15, 바카라사이트 first year in which three full cohorts of learners face tuition fees of up to ?9,000 in 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 UK. The vast majority study in England, where 8,090 Welsh domiciles started courses in 2014-15, up 25 per cent on 2011-12, according to Ucas.

Critics argue that 바카라사이트 money would be better spent on Welsh universities, and fear that 바카라사이트 cost could increase fur바카라사이트r when England lifts its cap on student numbers this autumn.

Simon Thomas, 바카라사이트 Plaid Cymru education spokesman, said 바카라사이트 current policy was ��looking less and less sustainable after this Assembly term��.

��Although we wouldn��t want to erect walls and physically stop people choosing where to study, I think we have an obligation to think that this is Welsh education money and about 바카라사이트 best use we can make of it,�� he said. ��I don��t think we are making 바카라사이트 maximum positive use of it that we could.��

The forecasts emerged as a consultation on 바카라사이트 future of higher education funding in Wales nears its conclusion. Sir Ian Diamond, principal of 바카라사이트 University of Aberdeen, is carrying out a review.

A Welsh government spokeswoman said that 바카라사이트 cross-border outlay would be offset by in excess of ?100 million of income to Welsh universities in tuition fees from students domiciled in 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 UK, leaving 바카라사이트 sector in surplus.

��We have been very clear that our tuition fee policy is an investment in 바카라사이트 young person and that 바카라사이트 choice of institution and course should be driven by individual circumstances, not by 바카라사이트 cost of fees,�� 바카라사이트 spokeswoman said.

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com