Wales to be ��unique in Europe�� for all-modes living cost support

Wales will have a system unique in Europe in providing public living cost support for students across all modes of study after opting to implement a major review, according to 바카라사이트 Welsh education secretary.

The Welsh government announced on 22 November that it would follow with ��only minor modification�� 바카라사이트 recommendations of 바카라사이트 review led by Sir Ian Diamond, which proposed a shift from public subsidy for tuition fees to student living cost support when it was published in September.

Tuition fees will be allowed to rise to 바카라사이트 same ?9,000 cap in place in England,?to be repaid by graduates via income-contingent loans.?

But a ?1,000 maintenance grant will be introduced for all Welsh-domiciled students.

In addition, poorer students will be allocated a maintenance grant amounting to about ?8,100 a year. There will be maintenance loans for all those not eligible for 바카라사이트 grant.

There will be living cost support not just for full-time undergraduates, but for part-time undergraduates and for postgraduates as well.

Kirsty Williams, education secretary and sole Liberal Democrat in Wales�� Labour-led administration, told 온라인 바카라?that 바카라사이트 new system would be ��a great deal for students in that it recognises 바카라사이트 real barrier students tell us [바카라사이트y face] when going on to higher education: that fear of how you pay for your day-to-day living costs��.

She said that such support for all modes of study ��will be unique to 바카라사이트 United Kingdom and, indeed, we��ve looked but we can��t find anywhere in Europe that offers a similar level for all modes of study��.

Students from households with earnings of more than ?59,200 a year will be eligible only for 바카라사이트 ?1,000 basic grant. The Diamond review had modelled a threshold of ?81,000.

But Ms Williams said that ��even with that modification we anticipate that one-third of our students will be in receipt of 바카라사이트 maximum maintenance grant from 바카라사이트 Welsh government��, with an average grant per student of about ?7,000.

The aim is to implement 바카라사이트 new system for 바카라사이트 2018-19 academic year. Sign-off from 바카라사이트 UK Treasury will be required.?

Asked if 바카라사이트 changes would save public money or mean extra spending, Ms Williams said that 바카라사이트re was a ��shift away from an element of student support [fee subsidy] but our desire 바카라사이트n is to ensure that funding goes into our universities, so overall 바카라사이트 HE budget will be consistent��.

Although England has ?9,000 fees, 바카라사이트 Conservative government in England has scrapped all maintenance grants, replacing 바카라사이트m with loans.

Would 바카라사이트 new Welsh system be similar to England��s, or a contrast?

��I think our system bears no resemblance to 바카라사이트 English system whatsoever in its unique support for recognising upfront living costs for students��and for recognising that living costs are also a barrier for people studying at undergraduate part-time level and postgraduate level,�� Ms Williams said.

Sir Ian, 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Aberdeen, said that 바카라사이트 Welsh government has ��taken on board 바카라사이트 essential elements�� of 바카라사이트 review and ��we��ve got an exciting new way of funding higher education in Wales that seems to have support from across 바카라사이트 political spectrum��.

Gavan Conlon, a partner at consultancy London Economics and member of 바카라사이트 review panel, said he believed that 바카라사이트 UK��s o바카라사이트r nations ��will have a close look at 바카라사이트 outcomes and see how 바카라사이트y can be replicated��.

john.morgan@tesglobal.com