Student support applications for higher education - update at end of February 2013

Statistics on applications for student support and Tuition Fee Loans, and Tuition Fee Grants awarded, include data for Welsh domiciled students (wherever they study) and EU domiciled students studying in Wales, for the period up to 24 February 2013 (the last Sunday of the month). The latest monthly release updates the statistics previously released on 14 February 2013.

The key points from the latest release are:

• in the 2012/13 academic year to date, a total of 57,765 applications had been received for student support in Wales, up 3 per cent on the 2011/12 figure.From being 12 per cent lower in April than the previous academic year, applications are now higher than the same period last year. Changes in timing of the application process may have affected percentage changes seen in the cycle
• 50,325 applications had been received for Tuition Fee Loans, up 4 per cent on 2011/12
• 23,030 students had been awarded a Tuition Fee Grant. Of these, 20,395 (89 per cent) students had been awarded the new Tuition Fee Grant

Since 2006/07, students have been able to apply for non-means tested loans to cover tuition fee costs. From 1 September 2012, students who normally live in Wales and are entering an UK Higher Education Institution (HEI) or college charging variable tuition fees (of up to a maximum of £9,000) will be eligible to receive a Tuition Fee Grant (TFG) of up to £5,535. EU students will be eligible for this TFG if they are studying in Wales. Welsh domiciled students and EU domiciled students studying in Wales who started their course between September 2006 and August 2010, are eligible for a non-means tested TFG of up to £2,085 (2012/13 level). The grants are not means-tested and are non-repayable. Welsh domiciled students and EU students commencing their studies between 1 September 2010 and 31 August 2012 are not eligible for a TFG (except those who deferred entry to higher education).

Further information

StatsWales website (external link)

Contact

Tel: 029 2082 3895
Email: post16ed.stats@wales.gsi.gov.uk

Next update

18 April 2013