University tuition fees in Wales to rise by nearly £300 a year

Ms Howells said the decision would not increase the up front costs of university for students and would not increase their monthly repayments as graduates.

A 1.6% increase to maintenance support for undergraduates was also announced.

The maximum amount of support for postgraduate study will also increase by 1.6%, with the same level of increase in grants for students with dependants and those with a disability.

Ms Howells said raising fees was necessary “to ensure Welsh higher education institutions remain competitive with those in other parts of the UK”.

“I want to be clear that this small increase in fees should not dissuade anyone from Wales considering applying for university next year,” she said.

She added there would be an extra £20m in funding for Medr, external, which funds post-16 education, to support further and higher education.

A spokesperson for Universities Wales said it welcomed the announcement “of additional support, which comes at a critical time for Welsh universities”.

“Our universities play a fundamental role in communities across Wales: generating jobs, transforming lives, supporting public services, and delivering world-leading research and innovation,” they said.