Overseas Study Pilot: Scoping study Final Report

In January 2018, the Welsh Government appointed OB3 Research, in conjunction with the Wales Institute of Social and Economic Research, Data and Methods (WISERD) of Cardiff University, to undertake a scoping study for an overseas study pilot.

The Welsh Government is committed to running a pilot scheme to explore the practicalities of extending the new student support package being introduced in 2018/19 to students wishing to study beyond the UK and EU, as recommended by the Diamond Review. It is anticipated that the pilot will be launched in the 2018/19 academic year with activities focused on publicising the pilot and application process, with candidates applying to study from the start of the 2019/20 academic year. The pilot is scheduled to run for three years from 2019/20. The pilot would offer the opportunity to test the practicalities, potential benefits and risks of offering portability funding for overseas study.

The aim of the scoping study is to provide evidence to support the development of an overseas study pilot. The scoping study will also be used to support the development of an evaluation of the pilot itself.