James Yorke-Wade has 13 GCSEs

James Yorke-Wade, 18, from the Vale of Glamorgan, wants to study French and German at Swansea.

But he was refused funding for a year beforehand at a residential college.

The assembly government said it could not pay for him to learn social and living skills and funding was a matter for social services and health board.

Mr Yorke-Wade believes the year's training at a specialist college for students with physical disabilities in Cheltenham is essential if he is to take up his university place.

The university is supporting his plan to go to Cheltenham before enrolling.

I'm getting fed up of barriers being put in my way because I want to go to this university and this college James Yorke-Wade

But the assembly government's education department said it would not fund the formal element of education he would receive at Cheltenham because he could have that locally.

Officials have written to the Vale of Glamorgan Council to see if it can help resolve the funding issue.

Mr York-Wade told BBC Wales' Dragon's Eye he felt he had to go public about his dispute.

He said he was "getting fed up of barriers being put in my way because I want to go to this university and this college".

'Promoting equality'

He said: "I want to learn and to live on my own so I can go to the university and study my French and German degree, but I can't do that without the money, can I?"

In a statement the assembly government said �2.3m extra had been allocated to enable people with learning difficulties and disabilities to access further education.

It said his application for funding did not meet the criteria, as only education and training courses were funded from the minister's portfolio.

In addition, when it did fund a place at a specialist centre, the assembly government will ask social services departments and local health boards to pay for the non-educational parts of the course.

"The Welsh Assembly Government is committed to promoting equality of opportunity regarding access to education and training," it said.

"The minister is not involved in individual decisions about funding but any applicant would be able to make an appeal which would be considered by an independent appeals panel.

"The assembly government has supported approximately 5,800 learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities to attend specialist courses at further education colleges in Wales and a further 3,900 learners are provided with additional support to attend mainstream courses such as A levels and NVQs (national vocational qualifications)."