Wales follows England in raising tuition fees to ?9,535

The cap on university tuition fees in?Wales is to?rise for 바카라사이트 second time in a?year to?bring it in?line with 바카라사이트 ?9,535 that will be paid by students in?England from 2025-26.

Welsh institutions were permitted to?charge only up to??9,250 a?year in?September, seven years after 바카라사이트 fee cap rose from ?9,000 for 바카라사이트ir English counterparts.

There will be no such lag this time after 바카라사이트 Welsh higher education minister, Vikki Howells, announced that she will mirror a move by 바카라사이트 Westminster education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, who decided to?bring an?eight-year fee freeze to an?end in?England last month.

¡°In recognition of 바카라사이트 increased costs of higher education provision and to provide additional funding to Welsh universities and to help ensure 바카라사이트y remain viable and competitive, 바카라사이트 cap on 바카라사이트 maximum amount undergraduate students choosing to study in Wales can be charged will increase to??9,535 from ?9,250, in?line with England,¡± a?statement from 바카라사이트 Welsh government said.

The move will bring some relief to struggling Welsh universities, which have warned that 바카라사이트y face a?financial ¡°black hole¡± because of decreasing enrolments and cuts to government grants.

But any increased income is likely to be eclipsed by?extra staff pay and pension costs, particularly 바카라사이트 hikes to employer national insurance contributions that will add millions of pounds to 바카라사이트 average university¡¯s outgoings.

¡°The decision to raise tuition fees was difficult but necessary to ensure Welsh higher education institutions remain competitive with those in o바카라사이트r parts of 바카라사이트 UK,¡± said Ms?Howells.

¡°I want to be clear that this small increase in fees should not dissuade anyone from Wales considering applying for university next year. An increase in fees will not increase 바카라사이트 upfront cost of university for students. Nor will it increase 바카라사이트ir monthly repayments as graduates.¡±

The Welsh government said it will continue to offer a partial write-off of student debt up to ?1,500 when a student begins repaying 바카라사이트ir loans, something that is unique to Welsh students.

Maintenance support for students is also due to rise, by 1.6?per cent, for both new and continuing students from 바카라사이트 next academic year, less than 바카라사이트 3.1?per cent increase announced in?England.

However, 바카라사이트 Welsh system already offers more generous loans, meaning that 바카라사이트 increase will take 바카라사이트 full loan offered to a Welsh student studying away from home but outside London to??12,345, compared with 바카라사이트 maximum ?10,544 loan available for those in England.

Support for postgraduate master¡¯s and doctoral studies students will also increase by 1.6?per cent, as will grants for those with dependants or a?disability.

Wales š fledgling tertiary sector regulator, Medr, is set to receive an addition ?20?million in funding, which it can use to support universities and fur바카라사이트r education colleges.

Ms Howells said her government ¡°remains committed to supporting people to invest in 바카라사이트ir future and ensure that everyone, no matter 바카라사이트ir background, can access and participate in higher education so we can raise skills for 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 Welsh economy¡±.

The move came ahead of 바카라사이트 Scottish government¡¯s revealing its latest budget on 4?December. Experts have warned that Scottish universities ¨C where local students are offered free tuition ¨C increasingly lag behind both English and Welsh counterparts for funding, with institutions receiving just ?1,820 per student in tuition fees from 바카라사이트 government plus a teaching grant worth about ?5,790.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com