The Welsh Government should support students from Wales who want to study in Wales, but not give financial support to students from Wales who want to study in other countries.

This is the call from Dyfodol i’r Iaith, in response to the report of The Financial Directors Group for Higher Education in Wales on higher education fees.

Heini Gruffudd, Chairman of Dyfodol i’r Iaith, said: “Supporting students from Wales in this way would help solve several issues:
• It would give a fillip to the development of Welsh language higher education courses, and the plans of the Welsh National College
• It would help mitigate emigration from Wales, and keep our best talent in the country
• This in turn would stimulate our indigenous economy.

Heini Gruffudd added: “Another big advantage would be that it would relase enough cash to enable the Welsh Government to give a full grant to students from less privileged backgrounds, making higher education in Wales more inclusive.”

At the moment, students from Scotland get their higher education free in Scotland, and Scotland also give free education to students from the European Union. The Welsh Government gives a grant of up to £5,425 to each student from Wales who studies in Wales and in England.