THE number of students in Wales seeking help to pay university fees is at its highest level since 2008, according to figures released by the Welsh Government on Thursday.
The tuition fee loans and grants are awarded to Welsh students wherever they study and EU students studying in Wales.
Since 2006, students have been able to apply for non-means tested loans to cover tuition fees.
From September last year, students who normally live in Wales and are entering a UK higher education institution or college charging tuition fees up to £9,000 are eligible to receive a grant of up to £5,425.
EU students are also eligible if they are studying in Wales, while Welsh students and EU students studying in Wales who started their course between September 2006 and August 2010, can get a grant of up to £2,085.
Those commencing their studies between September 2010 and August 2012 are not eligible for the grant.
In the 2013-14 academic year to date, 59,730 applications have been received by the Student Loans Company for financial support, a rise of six per cent from 2012-13.
The number has now exceeded all year-end figures for the previous years since the academic year is at its highest since 2009.
The figures show 52,420 loan applications have been submitted. , up six per cent on 2012-13, and to date, 36,700 students were approved for the grants.
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