Cwestiwn ysgrifenedig WQ86174

I am conscious of the impact the current cost of living crisis will be having on all students. I am working with the higher education sector to identify how we can mitigate the impacts of the crisis on students’ physical and mental health.

The Higher Education Funding Council (HEFCW) engages regularly with NUS Wales and with university students’ unions and will be working with HE providers to understand the challenges they and their students are facing. I welcome the support our universities are already providing to ensure campuses are equipped for greater volumes of students, with free food and warm study environments.

I have written to HEFCW asking for their assurance that our universities are doing all they can to support their students and staff during this crisis, including through provision of additional hardship funding.

Our universities provide excellent support services, including money services support and access to hardship funds for students who may be experiencing financial difficulty. I would encourage any student who is struggling with being in university, financially or otherwise, to contact their student union who are well placed to offer advice and support.

HEFCW is also funding, jointly with the Office for Students, the Student Space website which includes financial information (studentspace.org.uk) about managing money worries, how to make a budget and what to do if students have financial problems.

Our student support system is designed to provide students with access to funding to meet their day to day living costs. A comprehensive package of support is available for all students. Ours is the most generous package of support in the UK, one which is recognised for the level of maintenance support.

Students are not required to repay their loan debt until they complete, or cease to undertake, a course, and when their earnings reach a certain threshold. Welsh graduates can also take advantage of a partial write-off of their debt when they begin repayment. The ‘partial cancellation scheme’ sees student debt reduced by up to £1,500 when they make an initial repayment. The Welsh Government is the only UK government offering this scheme.

Our student support amounts are increased each year to reflect inflation. Support for this academic year is 2.2% higher than it was last year, while undergraduate maintenance support has been increased by 3.5% in line with increases in the National Living Wage. Student support rates for 2023-24 will be published later this term.