P-06-1582 Restore a fair funding route so Welsh students aren’t shut out from MT dance degrees in England

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This petition was submitted by Jenny Capitao, having collected a total of 10,585 signatures.

Text of petition:

Welsh students applying for specialist musical theatre and dance degrees in England now face new barriers because the way funding and course designation works in practice has changed. Many courses no longer meet Student Finance Wales conditions, disadvantaging Welsh applicants compared with students elsewhere in the UK. This shift has created uncertainty and made planning applications far more difficult.

Additional information:

Most specialist musical theatre and dance training is delivered by recognised colleges in England, so Welsh students rely on Student Finance Wales to access these pathways. Current rules mean many courses are not automatically designated unless both the university and partner college are OfS‑registered, which many specialist colleges are not. This leaves Welsh applicants without clear funding routes or limited to a reduced tuition‑fee loan that creates unaffordable gaps. Since Medr assumed responsibility for designation in July 2024, families have been told to contact colleges individually, but information is often unclear or unavailable. Welsh students now face a real risk of being unable to accept places they earn through competitive auditions. As students are already applying and auditioning in the current cycle, urgent clarity and a fair funding route are essential so Welsh learners are not shut out of professional training purely because of where they live.

Senedd Constituency and Region

• Preseli Pembrokeshire
• Mid and West Wales

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