Medr/2026/16: Medr’s investment for academic year 2026/27

13 May 2026

1. This publication sets out our overall investment for Medr-funded tertiary education and research providers for the academic year (AY) 2026/27. This document also includes individual provider allocations for all core investment and some targeted budgets, where available.

2. Our confirmed funding letter highlights that our revenue budget for financial year (FY) 2026-27 is set at £1,005.008 million. This is an increase of £29.6589 million (3.04%) compared to the final budget, including in-year allocations received in FY 2025-26 that have been baselined, of £975.349 million. Including capital, Medr’s total budget for FY 2026-27 is £1,018,508,000.

Total investment for the 2026/27 academic year

3. This summarises the overall academic year funding which are set out in more detail throughout the publication.

	AY 2025/26 £ million	AY 2026/27 £ million
Ring-fenced
Apprenticeship budget	143.277	150.535
Junior apprenticeships	0.600	1.000
Youth Entrepreneurship	0.360	0.360
REACH	0	0.400
Estyn	0	2.056

Core
Local authority sixth form	119.221	121.682
Local authority adult community learning	6.479	6.479
Further education mainstream	434.894	466.424

Increased participation budget	21.126	6.250
Higher education research and innovation	97.121	98.121
Higher education teaching funding	71.732	76.461
Degree apprenticeships	9.411	10.111
Part-time fee waiver	0.200	0.200

Targeted
Learner wellbeing	49.020	49.840
Access and wellbeing	7.764	7.025
Employability and skills	3.005	3.005
Research and innovation	2.000	2.000
Student/learner and workforce	8.075	6.795
Data and technology	3.500	3.500
Central programme budget	0	3.000
Strategic developments	3.500	0.500

Capital
Higher education	10.000	10.000
Further education digital	3.000	3.000
Total	994.285	1028.744

4. This publication includes all formula-driven core grants. Where possible, grants allocated via targeted budgets, which may be subject to the provision of a specific expenditure plan or strategy, are also included. Further publications will provide details of allocations and guidance, where required, for specific investment streams.

5. The allocations in this paper do not take account of any potential in-year funding adjustments for FY 2026-27 that may be applied by the Welsh Government. Any such funding adjustments will result in a revision to the individual allocations.