Minister rules out international student levy in Wales

The Welsh government has said it will not be following the UK government in funding some university student grants through a levy on international students.

In England, UK ministers plan to put a tax on international student fees to pay for maintenance grants for students from lower-income families.

However, Welsh Education Secretary Lynne Neagle said the policy will not be implemented in Wales and that she wanted international students to "continue to feel welcomed".

Welsh students can claim maintenance support through a mix of grants and loans.

Last month, at the Labour conference in Liverpool, the education secretary for England announced that maintenance grants will return for some university students in England by 2029.

Bridget Phillipson said the grants will apply to "tens of thousands" of students from lower-income households, targeted at those "studying priority courses that support the industrial strategy and the Labour government's wider mission to renew Britain".

The UK government said the new grants would be funded by a tax on international student fees, which will only apply to higher education providers in England.

Speaking in the Senedd, Neagle said: "It's already been confirmed that the student levy will not apply to Wales.

"We are not seeking to moderate student demand in this way and indeed we really welcome international students.

"We want out international students to continue to feel welcomed for the positive social and cultural and economic contributions they make in Wales."

Neagle was responding to a question from Plaid Cymru's Cefin Campbell, who was opposed to any levy being introduced in Wales.

"So far from strengthening universities, the levy risks weakening them and making Wales less globally competitive," he said.

Universities Wales, the umbrella group representing Welsh universities, has welcomed the announcement.

Chair Prof Elwen Evans said: "International students make a significant economic contribution to Wales as well as enriching our courses, campuses and communities.

"The introduction of a levy - effectively an additional tax - would have had detrimental impact on Welsh universities.

"The levy would have increased the financial pressure the sector is under, affecting universities' capacity to contribute to their local communities and potentially reducing the number of places available for Welsh and UK students."

All students from Wales qualify for a £1,000 maintenance grant and there is a up to £12,345 available for students studying away from home outside London through a mix of loans and grants, depending on household income.

In Scotland, the maximum annual maintenance loan is £9,400 for under-25s, and there is a number of bursaries and grants students there can apply for too.