Tuition Fee Adjustment 26/27

There are many different aspects and details to student loans that can cause confusion. We are here to help, that is why we have created a suite of myth busting information regarding your student loans. We want you to understand the facts. 

What student loan repayment plan am I on? 

This all depends on where you are from and when you started university, here’s an easy breakdown to help you. 

Student Finance England Students (Repayment Plan 5)  

Five Quick Fire Facts: 

1. You only start to repay your loan when you earn over £25,000 a year. Earn less and you don’t pay a penny. 
2. You repay 9% of everything earned above the £25,000 threshold, regardless of the amount you owe. Here’s a quick example, if you earn £35,000 per year, you will repay £900 per year. This is regardless of whether you owe £20,000 in student loans or a £1 million in student loans. 
3. The loan is automatically cancelled after 40 years. 
4. You only start to repay in the April after you leave university. 
5. It doesn’t go on your credit file and your repayments will be taken out of your salary automatically. Self-employed? HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will work out how much you pay from your tax return.  

Student Finance Wales & England Students (Repayment Plan 2)  

Five Quick Fire Facts: 

1. You only start to repay your loan when you earn over £27,295 a year. Earn less and you don’t pay a penny. 
2. You repay 9% of everything earned above the £27,295 threshold, regardless of the amount you owe. Here’s a quick example, if you earn £35,000 per year, you will repay £693 per year. This is regardless of whether you owe £20,000 in student loans or a £1 million in student loans. 
3. The loan is automatically cancelled after 30 years. 
4. You only start to repay in the April after you leave university. 
5. It doesn’t go on your credit file and your repayments will be taken out of your salary automatically. Self-employed? HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will work out how much you pay from your tax return.  

Please note, this is not financial advice, there are lots of caveats and additional information that are related to and could affect the facts above, depending on your own personal situation. In light of this, we would encourage you to further explore the Government’s information guide. 

The UK & subsequently Welsh Government recently increased the tuition fee cap (the maximum tuition fee that can be charged) from £9,535 to £9,790. Starting September 2026, your tuition fees will be adjusted to the tuition fee cap (currently £9,790), bringing them in line with other UK nations and most Welsh universities. This decision comes as a response to sustained inflationary pressures that have impacted universities across the UK. 

Our commitment to providing an exceptional teaching and learning environment remains unwavering. Therefore, we have made this decision to ensure that we can continue delivering and funding the high-quality education and student experience that we pride ourselves on.  

Please see our detailed breakdown above or below of which students will be affected by the tuition fee adjustments. 

The UK & subsequently Welsh Government recently increased the tuition fee cap (the maximum tuition fee that can be charged) from £9,535 to £9,790. Starting September 2026, your tuition fees will be adjusted to the tuition fee cap (currently £9,790). 

When you apply for your next student finance amount, please ensure you select the ‘Maximum Loan Amount’, this will automatically cover your tuition fees. 

Students with full NHS bursary funding will not be affected by the changes. For students who have “opted-out” of NHS bursary funding your fees will be adjusted to £9,790 from September 2026. 

If you are currently a UK or ‘home’ undergraduate student, as of September 2026 your tuition fees will be adjusted from £9,535 to the tuition fee cap (currently £9,790).  

If you are a UK or ‘home’ undergraduate student, who has suspended their studies, as of September 2026 your tuition fees will be adjusted from £9,535 to the tuition fee cap (currently £9,790). 

If you are a UK or ‘home’ undergraduate student, and are repeating your studies, as of September 2026 your tuition fees will be adjusted from £9,535 to the tuition fee cap (currently £9,790). 

If you are a UK or ‘home’ undergraduate student, and required to repeat modules, as of September 2026 your repeat module fee will be £815 per 10 credits.  

If you are a UK or ‘home’ undergraduate student, and studying a year in industry, as of September 2026 you will be charged 20% of the tuition fee cap (currently £9,790) equalling £1,955. 

If you are a UK or ‘home’ undergraduate student, and studying a year abroad, as of September 2026 you will be charged 15% of the tuition fee cap (currently £9,790) equalling £1,465. 

If you are currently a UK or ‘home’ undergraduate student, as of September 2026 your tuition fees will be adjusted from £9,535 to the tuition fee cap (currently £9,790).  

If you are currently a UK or ‘home’ undergraduate student, as of September 2026 your tuition fees will be adjusted from £9,535 to the tuition fee cap (currently £9,790).  

From September 2026 tuition fees for new or repeating foundation year students (classroom based) will remain at the tuition fee cap (currently £5,760). 

If you are a UK or ‘home’ student progressing from the foundation year classroom-based programme onto Level 4 of your undergraduate degree, from September 2026 your tuition fees will be adjusted from £9,535 to the tuition fee cap (currently £9,790). 

If you are a UK or ‘home’ undergraduate student, as of September 2026 your tuition fees will be adjusted from £9,535 to the tuition fee cap (currently £9,790).  

No, students enrolled on a Foundation Degree or Degree Apprenticeship programme based in Swansea or at Coleg Cambria will not be affected by these changes. 

No, if you are an international student, you will not be affected by the change, as your tuition fees differ to UK or ‘home’ students. Please see our course web pages for your tuition fees. 

No, postgraduate students will not be affected by the changes. 

No, current PGCE students will not be affected by the changes, but new/prospective PGCE students will.