Background and Purpose
These Regulations amend existing regulations to:
(i) increase the full-time undergraduate tuition fee caps;
(ii) apply these caps to all qualifying persons on qualifying courses at regulated Welsh institutions for academic years beginning on or after 1 August 2025; and
(iii) increase the amount of tuition fee loan for academic years beginning on or after 1 August 2025 accordingly.
Procedure
Negative.
The Regulations were made by the Welsh Ministers before they were laid before the Senedd. The Senedd can annul the Regulations within 40 days (excluding any days when the Senedd is: (i) dissolved, or (ii) in recess for more than four days) of the date they were laid before the Senedd.
Technical Scrutiny
The following point is identified for reporting under Standing Order 21.2 in respect of this instrument:
1. Standing Order 21.2(v) – that for any particular reason its form or meaning needs further explanation.
Regulation 1(3) provides that regulation 3
applies in relation to “an academic year which begins on
or after 1 August 2025…”. The term “academic
year” is defined in regulation 2(1) of the Education (Student
Support) (Wales) Regulations 2017, but it is not defined in these
Regulations.
As a result it is not apparent whether “academic year”
is intended to have the same meaning in these Regulations as that
prescribed by the definition in the 2017 Regulations. It is worth
noting that other recent education legislation (such as the
Education (Student Fees, Awards and Support) (Amendment) (No. 2)
Regulations 2024 and the Education (Student Fees, Awards and
Support) (Amendment) Regulations 2025) have included a definition
of “academic year”.
To provide clarity as to the Welsh Government’s intended meaning of the term and to avoid potential confusion for the reader, we consider that a definition of “academic year” should be included in these Regulations.
Merits Scrutiny
No points are identified for reporting under Standing Order 21.3 in respect of this instrument.
Welsh Government response
A Welsh Government response is required.
Legal Advisers
Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
10 March 2025