Students in Wales to get £1,000 maintenance boost amid cost of living crisis

Labour says inflation may force more students to drop out, as those in England get just 200 more on average

Students from Wales will get 1,000 more to help with the cost of living crisis while those in England get just 200 on average, as Labour MPs said inflation may force more students to drop out of university.

The Welsh government said maintenance loans and grants for its students would rise by 9.4% from September, with support for full-time students increasing from 10,710 to 11,720 on average. Students in England will get a rise of just 2.8% in the next academic year after the Westminster government's announcement last week, with the average maintenance loan increasing by about 200.