Tuition fees to rise in England for first time in eight years

The Education Secretary has announced a rise in tuition fees in England for the first time in eight years, starting from April 2025.

It comes after warnings from university leaders over significant financial concerns due to frozen domestic tuition fees – currently £9,250 per year – as well as a decrease in international students.

Addressing MPs in the House of Commons on Monday afternoon, education secretary Bridget Phillipson said the increase to to £9,535, per year was needed to secure universities’ financial future. She added that maintenance loans available to graduates will increase to help students cope with living costs.

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She said the goverment would 'fix the foundations' of higher education so that students can benefit for 'generations to come'.

“That is why I am announcing today that in line with the forecast set out in the Budget last week, from April 2025 we will be increasing the maximum cap for tuition fees, in line with inflation, to £9,535, an increase of £285 per academic year," she continued.

“Increasing the fee cap has not been an easy decision, but I want to be crystal clear that this will not cost graduates more each month as they start to repay their loans.

“Universities are responsible for managing their own finances and must act to remain sustainable. But members across this house will agree that it is no use keeping tuition fees down for future students if the universities are not there for them to attend.”

She also announced students will get an extra £414 per year for the 2025/2026 academic year.

She told the Commons: “It is no use keeping tuition fees down for future students if the universities are not there for them to