New Postgraduate Loans Announced For Eligible UK/ EU Students

Student Finance Wales have confirmed that loans will be available for Welsh domiciled students studying master’s level courses in the 2017/18 academic year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The announcement was made at an event in Cardiff on 31 January. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

‌The loans will match those currently available in England, with students able to borrow up to £10,280 towards the costs of postgraduate study at any UK university. EU students will also be eligible to apply for a Welsh postgraduate loan if they plan to study at a Welsh university. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Both full and part-time courses are eligible for the loans, with repayments starting once students are earning over £21,000 per year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The loans aim to widen access to postgraduate study, ensuring that Welsh students have the necessary skills and qualifications to compete in the global economy. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Click here for our latest information on postgraduate loans. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Dr Jenny Clarke, head of postgraduate recruitment at Swansea University, welcomed the announcement: “This is fantastic news for Welsh students, who now have the same opportunities as their English counterparts when it comes to accessing postgraduate education. The introduction of postgraduate student loans is a major step forward in student finance, which recognises the importance of higher-level qualifications in today’s jobs market.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​