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Student Maintenance Loan as English Student in Wales

Romeo2014
Romeo2014 Posts: 24 Forumite
Seventh Anniversary 10 Posts Combo Breaker
Hi,

So our son is going to Swansea in September and has made his Student Finance application via SF England (as directed by the Gov SF website).

He has received a figure of around £9000 for course fees and £5300 for his maintenance loan.

My partner was sure she saw Martin on a show discussing the fact that if you are attending a Welsh University you could get the full loan of around £9000 (offsetting the parental contribution) regardless if you were born in Wales or not (as long as studying there).

Was this incorrect or does he need to make a separate application for the 2nd part of the loan/grant to cover the remaining shortfall?

Finding it very confusing and very little information online to this question, hope you can help!

Thanks!

Comments

  • Caz3121
    Caz3121 Posts: 15,732 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    there is an article here (but it does not appear to agree with your partners understanding - it does cover Welsh Student finance for those studying in England)
    https://blog.moneysavingexpert.com/2020/09/martin-lewis--how-much-the-govt-expects-parents-to-give-their-ch/
  • Romeo2014
    Romeo2014 Posts: 24 Forumite
    Seventh Anniversary 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    thanks, yeah we're trying to find the episode of This Morning it was on - certain the topic came up if you were a non-Welsh national but studying at a Welsh University, you would get the full allowance paid as part grant part loan.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 3,297 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Fourth Anniversary Photogenic Name Dropper

    Welsh students are not just students from Wales. Your nationality is important but is not the only consideration. You're a Welsh student if you're any of the following:

    • a UK national or Irish citizen and been living in UK and Islands for 3 years before the first day of the first year of your course
    • have been granted settled status and been living in UK and Islands for 3 years before the first day of the first year of your course
    • have been granted settled or pre-settled status under the EU settlement scheme and been living in UK and Islands for 3 years before the first day of the first year of your course

    All of the above will also need to live in Wales on or before the first day of the first academic year of your course.

    You can also have an eligible exception residency type such as a refugee, stateless person or humanitarian protection.

    If you're not able to identify as a Welsh student you may still be eligible for funding as a European Union student.


    https://www.studentfinancewales.co.uk/undergraduate-finance/full-time/



  • Romeo2014
    Romeo2014 Posts: 24 Forumite
    Seventh Anniversary 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    So that echo's what we thought Martin Lewis said on This Morning - however - when you apply for student finance, you are directed to the student finance england site and they do NOT support the above - I questioned it with them on Twitter and received this response:

    "I have checked our maintenance loan rates and guidelines, and I can't seem to locate this information. An English student studying at a Welsh university does not automatically receive a full maintenance loan or grant, it is still a maintenance loan based on their household income."

    So I don't know who / where to ask now.
  • unforeseen
    unforeseen Posts: 7,367 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    There is nowhere else to ask. As an English student, Student Finance calculate your loans and grants as per the English system.
    My daughter was the same. She got the same loans and grants that she would have got by going to an English Uni, even though she went to Bangor. 
  • Romeo2014
    Romeo2014 Posts: 24 Forumite
    Seventh Anniversary 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    edited 20 July 2021 at 11:55AM
    OK, just spoken to Student Finance Wales - and they explained it as below:

    Unless you are moving to Wales and your home address will be in Wales from the 1st day of the academic year - it does not count.

    So the fact he will be living/studying at a Welsh University does not count - as his "home" address is apparently still here in England, despite living in Wales... nice little loophole there!

    Resolution? don't live on campus and live at a private address he can call "home" apparently!?

    Well when he has to reapply for finance the following years, he will be off Campus and his "home" address will be in Wales then (as will be renting privately).

    Something for you to consider if your daughter is still at Uni.
  • unforeseen
    unforeseen Posts: 7,367 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    She graduated in 2019
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