FAQ's

What is a Welsh Government Learning Grant?

A Welsh Government Learning Grant is financial support provided to help cover your day-to-day living costs while studying, such as rent, food, and transport. The most important thing to know is that this is non-repayable it is effectively free money that you do not have to pay back. The amount of grant you are entitled to depends on your household income. Families with a lower household income receive a higher proportion of their total maintenance support as a grant, ensuring those who need the most non-repayable support receive it.

A Maintenance Loan is the second part of your living cost support. Unlike the grant, this money is borrowed and must be repaid, but only after you graduate and are earning above a specific salary threshold. In the Welsh system, the loan is designed to top up your grant. Regardless of your household income, every Welsh student is entitled to the same total amount of maintenance support for their living situation. The loan simply makes up the difference between your grant entitlement and that maximum total figure. If you receive the maximum grant, you will be offered the minimum loan, and vice versa.

How do Maintenance Loans work in Wales?

Why is the Welsh Student Finance System Different?

The Welsh system was completely overhauled following an independent review (known as the Diamond Review) into higher education funding. While the English system often focuses heavily on tuition fees, the Welsh Government recognized that the biggest barrier for students is actually the day-to-day cost of living. Therefore, the Welsh system is uniquely designed to guarantee that every student, regardless of their financial background, has access to the exact same total amount of maintenance support to live on. The only variable is how much of that total is a non-repayable grant and how much is a repayable loan.