26th June 2008

Student financing is under review in Wales, including student debt and widening access, with the policy of lower tuition fees for Welsh students at universities in Wales possibly being questioned.

Welsh students going to Welsh universities currently pay £1,200 in fees, rather than £3,000 for students from outside Wales.  It costs £61m a year, however this is only guaranteed until the academic year starting in 2009.

But the One Wales coalition document commits the Welsh Assembly Government to keep to current spending levels until the end of the assembly term in May 2011 and the tuition fees bill would rise to £77.9m. The first phase is meant to be complete by September of this year.