The UK government, under Prime Minister Keir Starmer, plans to raise university tuition fees starting September 2025, marking the first fee increase in eight years.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson will soon announce this change, which will adjust tuition fees in line with inflation, according to a report by The Telegraph on Monday.
This increase will impact A-level students currently applying to universities. Since 2017, tuition fees have been frozen at £9,250. While the exact inflation rate to be used remains undecided, a match with the current 2.7% rate would raise fees to approximately £9,500.
The decision comes amid financial strain in the university sector. According to The Telegraph 40% of English universities expect to experience a financial deficit this year. The Russell Group, which represents top UK universities, argues that the tuition fee cap means they lose around £4,000 per UK student. University finances have also been hit by a recent drop in international students following new visa restrictions. Foreign students typically pay much higher fees than domestic students, and fewer international applications have worsened financial challenges.
Vivienne Stern, Chief Executive of Universities UK, urged the government to act. “Just get on and index-link the fee – this cannot be allowed to continue,” she said, emphasizing the need for fees to rise with inflation to stabilize university finances. She added that if funding had kept up with inflation, universities would currently be receiving between £12,000 and £13,000 per student.
Education Secretary Phillipson is expected to frame this increase as a “first step” towards a broader reform of the tuition fee system. The government may also consider restoring maintenance grants, which were cut in 2016, to provide more support for lower-income students.
