Every British undergraduate taught in Wales will soon cost their university more money to teach than the money they bring from tuition fees or teaching grants, Cardiff University’s vice-chancellor has warned.
Speaking after the Welsh government announced plans to cut almost £5 million from its 2023-24 higher education budget, Colin Riordan said his university was likely to hit a “tipping point” next year in which not a single undergraduate programme would break even if it had to rely solely on the £9,000 annual tuition fee paid by UK undergraduates.
Courses are only able to remain in the black thanks thanks to international students who pay higher fees, said Professor Riordan adding that other universities in Wales faced a similar scenario.
“Earlier this year the Russell Group released analysis which showed there will not be a single programme covering its costs on domestic fees alone in a few years, but we are ahead of that trend here in Wales because we cannot charge the extra £250 a year that English universities do,” explained Professor Riordan.
