University Tuition Fees Rise For First Time In Eight Years

University tuition fees will increase in England for the first time in eight years as part of a major overhaul of the higher education system, education secretary Bridget Phillipson has announced.

- MILLIE COOKE & DAVID MADDOX

The announcement appears to set Labour on course for a clash with one of their biggest voter bases, students. It follows other groups losing out with 10 million pensioners hit by the removal of the winter fuel payment and wages being hit by the hike in national insurance.

Tuition fees have been frozen at £9,250 since 2017 but will now rise in line with the Retail Price Index inflation from September 2025. Matching them to the current rate of inflation at 2.7 per cent would mean they increase to around £9,500.

In her announcement, Ms Phillipson said that the changes represented “a new relationship with universities” and warned that the sector will need to make changes as part of the package. “We are determined to maintain the sustainability of our university sector not just for now but for years ahead,” she said.