UK Government Raises University Fees by £285 After Eight-Year Freeze

New Delhi | November 8, 2024

For the first time in eight years, the UK government has announced an increase in university tuition fees, adding £285 to the cost for both domestic and international students. The change, effective from the 2025-2026 academic year, aims to address inflationary pressures on universities and sustain educational standards.

The tuition fee increase, set to raise the annual cost from £9,250 to £9,535 per student, marks the first adjustment since the fees were capped in 2017. According to government officials, the decision was driven by the need to support universities in maintaining high-quality education amid rising operational costs. The increase has sparked mixed reactions from students, university administrators, and education advocates.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson emphasized the importance of the adjustment in a statement on Tuesday, saying, “Universities have been under considerable financial strain due to inflation. This modest increase is a necessary step to ensure institutions can continue to provide world-class education and facilities for our students.”

Student organizations, however, have expressed concern about the added financial burden. The National Union of Students (NUS) stated that the fee increase, though relatively small, comes at a time when students are already grappling with the rising cost of living. NUS Vice President Alex Stanley commented, “This fee hike might seem minimal, but for students, it’s another financial challenge. Many are already balancing studies with part-time jobs just to cover basic expenses.”

UK university fees were last capped in 2017 at £9,250, a figure meant to help universities cover teaching and facility costs while keeping education accessible. However, universities have argued that, without an adjustment, inflationary pressures could compromise the quality of education. For nearly a decade, tuition fee stability had helped make the UK an attractive destination for international students, even as competitors offered low or no tuition fees for global students.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said a cap on tuition fees for domestic undergraduate students attending English universities would increase by £285 in August 2025 to £9,535 ($12,350). The cap has been set at £9,250 since 2017. The amount available in so-called maintenance loans, which help students with general living costs, will also rise by 3.1 percent. Through this, the student maintenance loans will be providing up to £414 extra per year to support students from the lowest-income families.

With the fee increase set to take effect next year, universities are preparing to inform both current and prospective students about the new costs. While the UK remains one of the world’s top destinations for higher education, this latest move underscores the financial challenges that students and institutions face alike. As Bridget Phillipson concluded, “We are committed to making higher education sustainable and globally competitive.