Student Finance Wales (SFW) Developments Steve Nicholls, Head of Student Finance Operations

Transcription

1 Corporate slide master With guidelines for corporate presentations Student Finance Wales (SFW) Developments Steve Nicholls, Head of Student Finance Operations

2 theguardian 29 April 2014 Welsh university students get most financial support in UK

3 Review of Welsh Government 14/15 HE & FE budgets?????

4 Current issues Modernisation of Student Finance Wales 2014/15 HE & FE package DSA changes Diamond Review HE Bill for Wales 2015/16 HE package

5 SFW Modernisation New updated SFW Websites for students and practitioners - have been launched. The new Student Finance Wales service was successfully launched on 3 April for FT students (from Llandudno Junction). Daily monitoring of new service. Independent Assessors appeals and complaints. LA Helpline - opened by SLC in March for Welsh local authority SFW officers to assist them through the transitional period. PT service due to launch in July.

6 SFW-2014/15 HE Full-time a non means-tested tuition fee loan up to 3,685 a non means-tested tuition fee grant to cover the difference between the maximum tuition fee loan available and the tuition fee actually charged by the UK university (a maximum grant of 5,315 if a tuition fee of 9,000 is charged) a means-tested Welsh Government Learning Grant (maintenance grant) of up to 5,161 depending on household income a means tested maintenance loan (up to 4,027 if living at parents' home, up to 5,202 if living away from parents home, and up to 7,288 if studying in London) a partial cancellation of maintenance loan of up to 1,500 once repayment has begun (debt relief)

7 SFW-2014/15 New HE Part-time Students From 1 September 2014 they will be eligible for: a non means-tested fee loan of up to 2,625 for designated courses at public or private institutions in Wales; a non means-tested fee loan of up to 6,750 for designated courses at publicly funded institutions in the rest of the UK; a non means-tested fee loan of up to 4,500 for specifically designated courses at a private institution based in the rest of the UK; Disabled Students Allowances (DSA) for studying at 25% intensity or above; and, other means-tested grants such as the course grant, the Childcare Grant, Adult Dependants Grant, and Parents Learning Allowance (only available to students studying at 50% intensity or more).

8 2014/15 FE Schemes Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) - means-tested & based on attendance and progression for yr olds Welsh Government Learning Grant (formerly ALG FE) up to 1,500 p.a. for over 19s Independent Evaluation of EMA

9 Diamond Review (1) the promotion of social mobility and widening access to higher education; the promotion of postgraduate learning opportunities in Wales and for Welsh domiciled students; the funding of higher education in the light of continuing constraints on public expenditure; full-time and part-time tuition fees policy;

10 Diamond Review (2) cross-border HE funding policy and arrangements; student finance arrangements (including maintenance support for HE and further education FE students, with an emphasis on supporting learners from the lowest income backgrounds and most deprived communities in Wales); funding routes; the Higher Education Funding Council Wales role in the delivery of student finance; and student debt.

11 DSA changes in England Welsh Ministers remain committed to supporting disabled students throughout their studies. The Disabled Students Allowances(DSA) are available to assist with the additional costs incurred by these students in relation to their study in Higher Education. We have no plans currently to change the DSA package in Wales, although we are aware of the recent changes proposed by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and will want to consider the outcome of their Equality Impact Assessment when it becomes available.

12 HE (Wales) Bill Amending existing functions of HEFCW to a more regulatory role Enforcement of tuition fee controls and safeguarding equality of opportunity for those accessing HE Provide assurance about the financial health and governance of Welsh HEIs and the quality of their provision New course designation arrangements all recognised providers to have charitable status.

13 SFW-2015/16 HE Full-time Fee charged likely to be frozen at the 9k maximum; an inflationary increase in the tuition fee loan, along with a corresponding decrease in the tuition fee grant to be implemented. HE grant/loan balance? Income thresholds unlikely to change.