University fees to rise for first time in eight years

University tuition fees in England are to go up for the first time in eight years, taking annual payments up to a record £9,535 per student, the government announced yesterday.

- Sally Weale

The inflation-linked increase, which comes into force in the next academic year, was approved by ministers after warnings of a deepening financial crisis in the university sector, where tuition fees have been capped at £9,250 since 2017.

To help soften the blow, Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary, also announced an increase to student maintenance loans of up to £414 a year for students from the lowest-income families.

She said: "This government's mission is to break down barriers to opportunity, which is why we are doing more to support students struggling with the cost of living despite the fiscal challenges our country faces.

"The situation we have inherited means this government must take the tough decisions needed to put universities on a firmer financial footing so they can deliver more opportunity for students and growth for our economy." Under the one-year deal, fees and maintenance loans will go up in line with the RPIX (retail prices excluding mortgage interest) measure of inflation - forecast at 3.1%-but there could be further increases if the government decides to revisit tuition fees in the spending review next year.