Responding to the Welsh Government's decision to increase student maintenance support by 9.4% for 2023/24, NUS Wales President Orla Tarn said:
“I’m delighted that the Welsh Government has chosen to support its students and deviate from the pitiful 2.8% rise in maintenance loans recently announced by the UK Government for university students in England.
“Many students in Wales are not from Wales and still rely on the maintenance support offered by the other UK nations, and they should follow Wales’ lead as soon as possible. We also need to see action to support international students – who don’t receive any student finance – during the cost-of-living crisis.
“There is still work to do in Wales to reduce the spiralling costs that students face. Student rent continues to rise higher than house prices, and the cost of transport to and from classes is creating a cost-of-learning crisis too.
“This announcement demonstrates the sort of long-term thinking that will make our education system and student life more sustainable. The Welsh Government has shown that it is possible to stand against regressive policies and make the most of its devolved powers.”
