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The government’s plans for top-up fees in England will come into effect next year with students being charged up to £3,000 per year for degree courses, while Wales is finally struggling towards a decision. We monitor the reaction from universities and students.
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Student Finance
7 Mar 2005 11:53 ~ David Ricketts

Welsh students could be next to face top-up fees

Welsh students could be faced with top-up fees of up to £3,000 following a report commissioned by the Welsh Education Minister to look at funding in higher education.

The 6 options

  • £1,200 fixed fee, as now

  • £2,000 fixed fee

  • Market-driven English competitive model: top-up fees up to £3,000

  • Assembly government part-managed scheme: top-up fees up to £3,000

  • Maximum £2,000 fees for Welsh students; up to £3,000 for non-Welsh students

  • £3,000 fixed fee
    • The Rees Commission, headed by Cardiff University's Teresa Rees, looked at various options in order to increase funding in Welsh universities. Among the six main proposals outlined in the report - the full version of which is to be published in the next few months - is the introduction of a £2,000 maximum fee for Welsh students and a fee of up to £3,000 for non-Welsh students: something which would be unlikely to help Wales' already declining student population and probably be illegal.

    Much like the reaction to the introduction of top-up fees in England, the report has been met with criticism, the NUS Wales president believing that society has a duty to maintain funding in universities as it is society that reaps the benefits of higher education in the long run.

    Reflecting this view was Plaid Cymru education spokeswoman Janet Ryder who believes that "the education system should be funded by the state at all levels"; echoing a wider consensus amongst the political parties in Wales that this is likely to be an unpopular decision if implemented.

    Although worrying for students who live and choose to study in Wales, the assembly government has pledged that fees will not be introduced during its current term, which ends in May 2007. A decision will be made this June.

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