Wales student finance: fee caps and support 2026/27
Starting a course in Wales in autumn 2026? The Welsh Government has updated the student finance amounts that shape what you can borrow or receive as a grant. The regulations were made on 20 January 2026, come into force on 12 February 2026, and apply to academic years beginning on or after 1 August 2026 (some postgraduate rules use 1 September 2026). We’ve read the Welsh Statutory Instrument on legislation.gov.uk so you don’t need to.
These changes cover full‑time and part‑time undergraduates, students at private providers, and both Master’s and doctoral students. They also refresh support for student parents and for disabled students. If you began your course before 1 August 2018 you’re on the pre‑2018 system; if you started on or after that date you’re on the post‑2018 system. Both sets get 2026/27 updates.
From 2026/27, the maximum tuition fees that regulated Welsh universities can charge are increased, and tuition fee loan ceilings move in step. For full‑time study the headline cap for the fee loan is £9,790. For part‑time study the cap depends on the course and provider: in some cases it is £7,335; in others it is £2,875. If you study with a private provider, the full‑time fee‑loan cap is £6,525, and part‑time caps can be £4,895 or £2,875. What this means: you can usually borrow up to the fee your provider charges, but only to the relevant cap for your course category.
For undergraduates on the post‑2018 system, the maintenance grant figures used in the calculation shift down slightly for 2026/27. The three reference amounts now read £6,805, £5,639 and £4,387, with your actual grant set by household income and living arrangements. The separate base grant remains at £1,020 for full‑time students and is pro‑rated by intensity for part‑time courses.
The maintenance loan tables for full‑time, special‑support and extended‑year students, and for part‑time students, are refreshed for 2026/27. Your loan entitlement still depends on where you live during term, your household income and whether you qualify for special support. Expect the precise amounts to be shown on your 2026/27 Student Finance Wales award letter.
If you have children or an adult dependant, key amounts rise. Adult Dependants’ Grant moves to a maximum of £3,474. Parents’ Learning Allowance rises to £1,983. Childcare Grant is assessed weekly and its caps are uprated to £196 for one child or £335 for two or more children; a £150 figure used within the calculation replaces £147. If you’re part‑time, the equivalent grants are updated on the same terms.
The maximum Disabled Students’ Allowance increases to £34,671 for 2026/27 across undergraduate, part‑time and postgraduate routes. This is the overall cap for assessed support such as specialist equipment and non‑medical help. What this means: if you need adjustments, your assessor can plan within a slightly larger overall budget.
As a part‑time student you’ll see the same overall pattern. Tuition fee loan limits include £2,875 and £4,895 depending on course and provider, with a higher £7,335 figure applying in some UK‑regulated cases. Part‑time versions of Parents’ Learning Allowance (£1,983), Adult Dependants’ Grant (£3,474) and Childcare Grant (£196/£335 caps) are all uprated for 2026/27. The small household‑income allowance used in financial assessments also nudges up to £1,175.
If you started before 1 August 2018, your living‑cost loan maxima increase again for 2026/27. The upper limits are now £11,880 if you live away from home in London, £10,113 if you live away from home outside London and £8,481 if you live with your parents. Reduced‑entitlement figures for shorter study years and other cases rise in line. What this means: your maximum available loan is a little higher than in 2025/26.
For students at private providers, several fee‑loan caps increase. The ‘new private institution’ fee loan rises to £6,525 for full‑time students, with other bands set at £3,260, £1,305 and £975 depending on the course and year. Extra fee‑loan top‑ups also rise, including one band moving from £535 to £790, and the accelerated graduate‑entry fee‑loan figure increasing to £540. Your provider will confirm which band applies to you.
The numbers used inside the means‑test move up slightly. Examples include the fixed minimum used in dependants’ calculations increasing from £50 to £54, and household‑income allowances used in assessments moving to figures such as £6,561, £9,026, £10,261 and £11,502. These tweaks won’t rewrite your budget on their own, but they can shift a borderline award.
If you plan to start in September 2026, build your budget using the new caps and keep an eye out for Student Finance Wales opening dates in spring. Check which provider category your course sits in, map any weekly childcare costs against the new caps, and if you need DSA support, book a needs assessment early. The regulations are signed by Vikki Howells, Minister for Further and Higher Education, and published on legislation.gov.uk so you can quote the official wording if needed.