Welsh students to receive major boost in living costs support

Welsh students are set to receive a boost in their living costs support, as the Welsh Government announces a 9.4% increase for the 2023/24 academic year. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

This means that the average full-time Welsh student will be able to claim £10,710 in maintenance grants and loans, rising to £11,720. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The increase will apply to full-time and part-time higher education students from Wales who began a course on or after 1 August 2018. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

This increase is in line with the National Living Wage, which is unique to Wales and is in contrast to the UK Government, who announced a 2.8% increase for students ordinarily resident in England. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The Welsh Government says it is committed to providing the most progressive student finance system in the UK, and Welsh undergraduate students will now have less to repay on average than their English peers, thanks to the living costs package of grants and loans. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The highest level of grant support will be given to those students most in need, and a substantial part-time student support package will be available, giving students from all backgrounds the chance to study part-time. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The Minister for Education and Welsh Language, Jeremy Miles said: ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Living costs should never be a barrier to studying at university. This increase in support will ensure that students from all backgrounds are able to access higher education. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Despite continuing budget pressures, I have ensured that the value of support is increased accordingly at this time of exceptional cost-of-living pressures.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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