The eagerly awaited Diamond Review of Higher Education and Student Finance in Wales has been published today (Tuesday 27th September 2016) with encouraging recommendations for the future of both undergraduate but also postgraduate funding in Wales.

The review, established in February 2014 by the then Minister for Education and Skills, focused on widening access; supporting the skill needs of Wales; strengthening part-time and postgraduate provision in Wales; and long-term financial sustainability. The resulting report contains a package of recommendations for the Welsh Government, the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW), Welsh universities and other private, public and third sector charities.

The Impact of the Diamond Review on Postgraduate Study in Wales: In Brief

• To help remove the barriers to postgraduate taught education, Welsh domiciled students will receive the same level of support as undergraduate students.
• All Welsh full-time students studying away from home (outside London) will be eligible for up to £8,100 in maintenance support, on top of a universal grant of £1,000. Means-tested grants of varying levels will be available for students from the majority of households.
• Comparable student support will be available for part-time and postgraduate students, with PGT course fees at Welsh universities ​‘soft capped’ at £9,000.
   
• Scholarships have been proposed to support postgraduate research in Wales.
• PGR scholarships will run for 3 years and be available to 150 PGR students each year.
• Scholarships will be free for the student and will be funded in a three way split between the Welsh Government, the university and a funder from either the private, public or third sector.
   
• Recommends the creation of knowledge transfer hubs and an ​‘agile, flexible project based funding stream’ for projects that will impact on the Welsh economy.

Read the full report here: Welsh Government Website

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