Wales (SFW)
Student Finance Wales (SFW) offers a unique funding model where every student receives the same amount of support for living costs, but the balance of grant vs loan varies.
Repayment threshold
See Plans
per year
Repayment rate
9%
of earnings over threshold
Max maintenance
£15,415
2025/26
Tuition fee cap
£9,535
2025/26
The 'Same Support' Guarantee
A distinctive feature of the Welsh system is that all students get the same total support for living costs (e.g., approx £12,345 for living away from home outside London in 2025/26), regardless of household income.
However, the composition of that money changes:
- Lower Household Income: You receive a higher non-repayable Grant (up to ~£10k) and a smaller Loan. This means you graduate with less debt.
- Higher Household Income: You receive a smaller Grant (minimum £1,000) and a larger repayable Loan.
Plan 2 Repayments
Welsh students are currently on Plan 2.
- Threshold: You start repaying when you earn over £27,295 a year.
- Rate: You pay 9% of your income above this threshold.
- Interest: Interest is charged at RPI + up to 3%, depending on your income.
- Write-off: Any remaining balance is written off after 30 years.
What you'll repay (example)
Repayments vary with income. Below are annual examples showing how the 9% rate applies to earnings above the threshold.
| Salary | Repayments per year |
|---|---|
| £20,000 | £0 |
| £30,000 | £137 |
| £40,000 | £1,037 |
| £50,000 | £1,937 |
| £60,000 | £2,837 |
| £70,000 | £3,737 |
| £80,000 | £4,637 |
| £90,000 | £5,537 |
| £100,000 | £6,437 |
ℹ️Partial Cancellation
In the past, the Welsh Government offered a partial cancellation of maintenance loans (up to £1,500) when you started repaying.
Note: This scheme has been replaced by the new grant system for newer students, but if you took out a loan between 2010 and 2018, you may still be eligible to have part of your loan cancelled when you make your first repayment.
Tuition Fees \x0026 Maintenance Support
Universities in Wales can charge up to £9,535 per year (2025/26). Student Finance Wales provides a tuition fee loan to cover this amount and also a combined package of grant and loan for living costs.
Everyone gets the same total living-cost support, but the balance between the non-repayable grant and the repayable loan depends on household income and where you live while studying.
| Household income | Grant (non-repayable) | Maintenance loan | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| £18,370 or less | £6,885 | £3,595 | £10,480 |
| £25,000 | £5,930 | £4,550 | £10,480 |
| £35,000 | £4,488 | £5,992 | £10,480 |
| £45,000 | £3,047 | £7,433 | £10,480 |
| £59,200+ | £1,000 | £9,480 | £10,480 |
| Household income | Grant | Maintenance loan | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| £18,370 or less | £10,124 | £5,291 | £15,415 |
| £25,000 | £6,772 | £6,772 | £15,415 |
| £35,000 | £6,408 | £9,007 | £15,415 |
| £45,000 | £4,174 | £11,241 | £15,415 |
| £59,200+ | £1,000 | £14,415 | £15,415 |
| Household income | Grant | Maintenance loan | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| £18,370 or less | £8,100 | £4,245 | £12,345 |
| £25,000 | £6,947 | £5,398 | £12,345 |
| £35,000 | £5,208 | £7,137 | £12,345 |
| £45,000 | £3,469 | £8,876 | £12,345 |
| £59,200+ | £1,000 | £11,345 | £12,345 |
💡Apply early to avoid delays
The Student Finance Wales deadline for new students is usually in May (the 2025/26 deadline was 23 May 2025). If you miss the guarantee date you can still apply, but your payments may be delayed — apply as early as possible.
Interest, write-offs and other FAQs
Interest is added to your loan and is reviewed annually. In March 2025 RPI was 3.2%, so the current rate set in September 2025 is 6.2%. Being charged interest does not always mean you'll pay it off in full — loans are written off after 30 years.
Student loans are collected through your salary if you're employed — there are no debt collectors chasing you. If you move abroad, you must tell the Student Loans Company so they can assess your repayments based on local thresholds.
Related guides
Student Loans & Mortgages
How loans affect buying a home and family finances
Learn more →Self-employment & Student Loans
How self-employed income affects repayments
Learn more →Student Loan Tax Codes
What your tax code means for deductions
Learn more →Repayment Thresholds
Current thresholds and how they change
Learn more →