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Don’t let money get in the way of university

All eligible Welsh undergraduates starting a university course for the first time can receive support for living costs, made up of a mixture of grants and loans.

For students with a relatively low household income, most of the available support for living costs will be a grant, which does not have to be paid back.

Full-time students who take out a maintenance loan could get up to £1,500 taken off their loan balance when they make the first repayment under the Welsh Government partial cancellation scheme.

Eligible Welsh postgraduate Master’s students can get similar support in the form of a grant and a loan, whilst Doctoral students can apply for a loan. The support is a contribution towards costs.

Apply early. You don’t need a confirmed place at university to apply for student finance and you can apply in Welsh or English language.

Apply now


For undergraduates all living cost support is in addition to tuition fee support - so there could be no upfront costs to pay. Full and part-time students can apply for a separate loan to cover tuition fees which they will have to repay once they start earning over the repayment threshold.

Now all new students can focus on their studies and spend less time worrying about making ends meet. 

Find out if you’re eligible and how and when to apply.

Why choose higher education?

Entering higher education will give you the opportunity to study your chosen subject and increase your knowledge, but there are other benefits too.

  • Improve your earning potential
  • Build essential life skills
  • Gain independence
  • Personal achievement