Student Support Applications for Higher Education, Update at End of July 2011

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 31 July 2011 (the last Sunday of the month). The latest monthly release updates the statistics previously released on 14 July 2011.

In 2006/07, loans to cover the cost of tuition fees became available for students. New system Welsh and EU domiciled students studying in Wales (i.e. those entering the new support arrangements introduced in September 2006) were subject to tuition fees of £1,200. Welsh domiciled students studying in England were subject to variable tuition fees of up to £3,000. In 2007/08, variable tuition fees (up to £3,375 in 2011/12) were introduced in Wales affecting all students who started their courses from 2006/07 onwards. Pre-2010/11 new system Welsh and EU domiciled student(1) who study in Wales are eligible for a Tuition Fee Grant (non-repayable) of up to £2,030 (2011/12 level), dependent on the institution they attend.

The key points from the latest release are:

• In the 2011/12 academic year to date, a total of 44,085 applications had been received for student support in Wales, up 3 per cent compared with 2010/11. However, this is the fourth monthly data point available for applications for 2011/12, and it is too early to predict whether the percentage increase seen this month will apply to final data. Changes in timing of the application process, and efforts to encourage earlier application may affect percentage changes this early in the cycle.
• 39,080 applications had been received for Tuition Fee Loans.
• 9,000 students had been awarded a Tuition Fee Grant.

(1) Continuing students who started a course of Higher Education on or after 1 September 2006 but before 1 September 2010.

Further information

StatsWales website.

Contact

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

Next update

8 September 2011