The UK government announced on Oct. 20 that tuition fees for universities in England will automatically increase annually based on the inflation rate starting next year. The current academic year's tuition fee is £9,535 (approximately HK$96,600). If estimated according to the current inflation level, next year's fees may exceed £9,900 (approximately HK$102,500), with an annual increase of around £400 (approximately HK$4,140).
According to a BBC report, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson confirmed in Parliament that the fee hike will be implemented. Related legislation will ensure that future annual increases are tied to inflation, and student loan limits will be adjusted accordingly. This change continues the upward trend of tuition fees in England.
Keegan also emphasized that charging the maximum tuition fee is conditional upon providing high-quality teaching. Universities that fail to meet the teaching standards threshold set by regulators will not be allowed to charge the highest fees and may even face restrictions on student intake.
The policy has sparked mixed reactions. Universities UK, which represents 141 universities, views the move as a much-needed improvement for the higher education system. Its Chief Executive, Vivienne Stern, stated that inflation-linked fee adjustments would alleviate the financial sustainability issues caused by the decade-long tuition freeze.
Prior to 2024, tuition fees had been frozen for seven years, meaning universities were effectively operating at a loss. To address funding gaps, many institutions attempted to recruit more international students. However, recent changes to visa rules have led to a decline in the number of these students.
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