On the 4th November, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson announced the increase in annual university tuition fees, which are set to change next autumn for the first time in 8 years. Tuition fees will increase from £9250 to £9535 per year, as a result of inflation in recent years. However, these changes have sparked various debates surrounding the benefits for universities and the negatives for students.
Since their introduction in 1998, tuition fees have steadily increased in order to fund universities and contend with the rising rates of inflation. Tuition fees are currently set at £9250 a year and have been since 2017. However, the government’s decision to increase tuition fees not only affects universities and students but also has significant political ramifications. Previously, Keir Starmer, the current Prime Minister, pledged to abolish tuition fees when he stood to be labour leader in 2020. However, the government has since claimed that reducing fees is no longer affordable because of the “difficult financial situation” the country is in, and that they are choosing to prioritize the NHS.
One of the primary motivations for this recent increase in fees is the pressure from universities. For most universities, tuition fees are their main source of income. However, many universities are now dealing with a funding crisis. This is largely driven by a huge drop in overseas students who are increasingly restricted by government policies and the costs of visas. 40% of universities have predicted a deficit in this academic year, which the government aims to combat by increasing student fees.
On the other hand, the impact of the increase in university tuition fees is likely to be largely negative for students, many of whom already view university as overly expensive and, in some cases, financially inaccessible. In recent years, more and more students have been driven to consider other options post-18 and this trend is likely to continue with the increase of student tuition fees. The National Union of Students (NUS) has criticised the increase in England, saying: "Students are being asked for an extra £5 per week to keep the lights on in lecture theatres”. Once this increase is implemented, all students starting university will graduate with more debt, although they will also be able to borrow more for their living expenses in the form of maintenance. It is not yet clear how exactly it will impact the amount of debt that new students will graduate with or how much the average graduate will repay over their lifetime, as this is a one-year plan.
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