'No worse off'

Publicising the figures on National Student Finance Day, Mr Andrews said: "My message to students thinking about going on to higher education is if you normally live in Wales and you are going to university next academic year you will be no worse off than if you had gone to university this year.

"I believe it's imperative that we stick up for our students and help them wherever we can and that's why we've put in place the most equitable student finance system we've ever created."

The Welsh government acknowledged there was a "wide range of uncertainties" behind the predicted cost.

The figures provided were "merely an indication of the likely financial consequences" and could be affected by changes in student numbers, loan take-up and fee levels.
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Ministers put Wales' finances at risk by announcing a key policy for funding our universities without establishing the burden such a policy would have on Welsh taxpayers”

End Quote Angela Burns AM Conservatives, education

Eight universities in Wales have been given permission to charge the maximum fee of £9,000 a year.

The Conservatives' shadow education minister Angela Burns warned the Welsh government's estimates could be "the tip of the iceberg".

"This was pre-election policymaking at its worst," she said.

"Ministers put Wales' finances at risk by announcing a key policy for funding our universities without establishing the burden such a policy would have on Welsh taxpayers."

Plaid Cymru said it supports the principles of the Welsh government's policy, but raised questions about whether it was affordable.

The party's education spokesman Simon Thomas said universities' decision to charge £9,000 was an "unexpected blow" for the government.

"We want to see the minister and higher education institutions pull together to create a strong, sustainable university funding structure in Wales," he said.

Liberal Democrat education spokesman Aled Roberts said: "I have to question whether spending like this is sustainable. A lot of assumptions have been made about take-up figures."

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