Wales
The following information is for students who intend to start a course in September 2024 and who are ordinarily resident in Wales before starting their course.
Please be aware that these figures are pending regulations being made and therefore may be subject to change. As soon as these figures are confirmed we will update this information. In the meantime, please continue to check Student Finance Wales for up to date information.
Funding available for entry in September 2024
If you live in Wales then you can apply to Student Finance Wales (SFW) for funding. The funding available from Student Finance Wales is made up of tuition fee funding and funding for living costs.
Tuition fee loan
Subject to terms and conditions, students who live in Wales and are studying towards their first degree will not have to pay their tuition fees upfront. Instead they could be eligible for a repayable tuition fee loan of up to £9,250 per year to meet the cost of their tuition fees. This funding would be paid directly to your University after you have enrolled.
You will only start to repay this loan when you have finished your studies and are earning more than £27,295 per year (subject to terms and conditions).
Funding for living costs
All eligible students who are ordinarily resident in Wales before starting their course at Cardiff University will have access to a maximum of £12,150 per year maintenance funding (if living away from their parental home) to help them meet their living costs.
The first £1,000 of this maintenance funding will be available as a non-repayable, non-means tested maintenance grant. This means, irrespective of household income details, all eligible students will receive a grant of £1,000.
The remaining £11,150 will be available as either a maintenance grant, a maintenance loan or a combination of both, depending on the means test that will be carried out on household income details.
This means all eligible students, living away from their parental home, will have access to up to a total of £12,150 maintenance funding. This funding is expected to help students meet the cost of their accommodation, food, travel and general living expenses.
The following table demonstrates examples of funding available from SFW depending on household income and where a student is living while they study:
Maintenance support
Support for a full-time undergraduate living away from home in 2024/25.
Household income | Maintenance grant | Maintenance loan | Total maintenance support |
|---|---|---|---|
£18,370 | £8,100 | £4,050 | £12,150 |
£25,000 | £6,947 | £5,203 | £12,150 |
£35,000 | £5,208 | £6,942 | £12,150 |
£45,000 | £3,469 | £8,681 | £12,150 |
£59,200 (+) | £1,000 | £11,150 | £12,150 |
If you will be living within the parental home while you study the total maintenance funding available is £10,315. The first £1,000 will still be available as a grant, irrespective of household income, and the remaining £9,315 will be available as either a maintenance grant, a maintenance loan or a combination of both, depending on the means test that will be carried out on household income details.
Maintenance funding is paid directly to students, normally in three instalments; one at the start of each term. The first instalment is normally released to you within 3-5 working days after you have completed enrolment and collected your ID card. Therefore it is important to arrive at University with funding for at least two weeks available to you.
Please note that if you change any details about your course or place of study, please inform Student Finance Wales before you come to university otherwise payment of your funding could be delayed.
Additional funding from Student Finance Wales
Depending on your personal circumstances there may be additional funding available to you. For example, if you have a disability, or if you have children or an adult dependent. Please visit Student Finance Wales for more information.
Additional funding from Cardiff University
In addition to the above funding you may qualify for a Cardiff University Bursary.
Cost of living in Cardiff
Cardiff is considered to be one of the most affordable UK cities to live in while you study. See our living cost calculator for the average cost of living in Cardiff as a full time, undergraduate student.
Repaying your student loan
Those who take an undergraduate tuition fee loan or maintenance loan via Student Finance Wales in academic year 24/25 will repay this loan under Repayment Plan 2.
Welsh Loan Cancellation Scheme
This scheme applies to students who borrow a maintenance loan from Student Finance Wales and has been confirmed by the Welsh Government to be available to those who start a full time course in September 2024. If eligible, the Welsh Government could cancel up to £1,500 from your student loan balance when you start repaying. Please visit the Student Loans Company for further details.
How to apply for funding
Students who are ordinarily resident in Wales will apply to Student Finance Wales for their funding. We anticipate the application process for students who intend to start a course in September 2024 will open in March/April.
Contact us
If you have any questions please get in touch with the Student Funding and Advice Team:
Student Funding and Advice Team
We offer free, impartial and confidential advice on funding, scholarships, bursaries, managing your money and more.
