Written Statement: Designation of Performing Arts and Related Courses

I am today setting out the Welsh Government’s position regarding the temporary designation of performing arts and related courses delivered by unregulated providers in England for the 2026/27 academic year.

Under the Teaching and Higher Education Act 1998, Welsh Ministers designate courses for student support where appropriate regulatory assurance can be demonstrated. This protects both students and public funding. The Welsh Government has a longstanding policy that unregulated providers may seek specific designation through due‑diligence undertaken by Medr.

In 2025/26, administrative weaknesses at some English providers and in the wider franchising system led to Welsh students being admitted onto non‑designated courses in error. Those students required urgent intervention. In response, the Student Loans Company has strengthened administrative processes, and unregulated providers now understand that their franchised courses are not designated for Welsh Government support.

However, I have heard very clearly how this is impacting on Welsh learners and the opportunities available to them. The Welsh Government has received significant representations from students and providers in the performing arts sector, alongside a Senedd petition exceeding 10,000 signatures. Many students have also attended auditions or received conditional offers for academic year 2026/27, unaware of the designation position. 

In light of these circumstances and recognising the importance of enabling students to access specialist provision where appropriate, I have decided to adopt a temporary, specific designation of identified performing arts and related courses at unregulated providers in England for 2026/27.

This decision will:

• Assist students who may otherwise have to seek alternative provision at a late stage in the audition and recruitment cycle.
• Allow temporary access to specialist or niche courses ahead of the wider review of designation policy.
• Maintain parity with students at other specifically designated providers, who receive support capped at the lower fee rate (£6,525 in 2026/27).
• Limit public‑funding risk by adhering to the established tuition‑fee cap applied to unregulated providers.

However, I must be clear that:

• This is an exceptional, one‑year, temporary measure.
• It does not replace or undermine the Medr due‑diligence process, which remains the appropriate route for long‑term designation.
• While the relevant providers remain unregulated and courses undesignated, the Welsh Government will not be able to cover any fee shortfall between the lower fee loan and the tuition fee charged by the provider.
• This approach cannot be extended indefinitely.

For the longer term, we will need to make sure that this situation does not arise again and are continuing to work with Medr, SLC and stakeholders to avoid this situation in the future.  The UK Government is also planning to make changes to designation policy, and we will need to take that into account.

Students should apply for their student finance in the usual way with support available from SLC.