UK students will face a rise in undergraduate tuition fees for the upcoming academic year, with fees set to increase to £9,535. This adjustment marks an increase of £285 from the previously frozen fee cap of £9,250, which had been in place since 2017.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson addressed Parliament on Monday, announcing that maintenance loans would also increase to assist students in managing the rising cost of living. The National Union of Students criticized the tuition fee hike as a “sticking plaster” but acknowledged that higher maintenance loans would significantly benefit the poorest students.
Phillipson indicated that these changes would impact fees and loans exclusively for the 2025/26 academic year. She emphasized that the government plans to unveil further major reforms aimed at long-term investment in universities in the coming months. “We must take the tough decisions needed to put universities on a firmer financial footing,” she stated.
In previous years, Labour leader Keir Starmer expressed intentions to abolish tuition fees entirely. However, he has since indicated that Labour is likely moving on from this promise, preferring to focus spending on healthcare instead.
The rise in tuition fees has been described by Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott as “a hike in the effective tax graduates have to pay.” Starting next year, both tuition fees and maintenance loans will be linked to RPIX inflation, which currently stands at 3.1%. This adjustment will raise maintenance loan caps: from £10,227 to £10,544 for students outside London, and from £13,348 to £13,762 for those within London.
Current students are also affected by these changes. Students Shay and Zay, first-year product design majors at Manchester Metropolitan University, expressed concerns that increased fees might deter prospective students. Zay noted that tuition fees are already a significant consideration for many when deciding on university attendance.
While some education leaders like Vivienne Stern, CEO of Universities UK, supported the government’s decision as necessary for sustainability, others such as Jo Grady, General Secretary of the University and College Union, argued that raising tuition is both economically and morally questionable. Grady labeled it an unnecessary burden on already debt-ridden students.
Amidst growing worries about the financial health of UK universities—where 40% have predicted deficits—the government aims to alleviate some burdens through increased financial support. However, this could lead to more substantial debt burdens for students upon graduation. An impact assessment is expected soon from the Department for Education to analyze how these changes will affect student debt levels over time.
Upcoming Increase in Tuition Fees Tuition fees in England are set to rise for the first time in eight years, which will likely increase the amount of student loan debt that many students incur upon leaving university.
Trump’s Tariff Plans: A Day-One Agenda Against Drug and Human Trafficking In a bold move to combat drug and human smuggling, President-elect Donald Trump has announced plans to impose significant tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China immediately after his inauguration on January 20.