Government set to increase university tuition fees for first time in eight years
4 November 2024, 14:02 | Updated: 4 November 2024, 16:30
Sir Keir Starmer is set to raise tuition fees for the first time in eight years, LBC understands.
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Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson will reportedly announce the price hike in a statement on Monday afternoon, as the government looks to bring tuition fees in line with inflation.
The change, which will affect A-level students who are currently applying to universities, is expected to come into force in September 2025.
Since 2017, tuition fees have been frozen at £9,250 per year with any increase expected to provoke an intense backlash, especially considering Sir Keir pledged to abolish fees when running to be Labour leader.
He later u-turned on this promise, claiming the country was in a "different financial situation.”
It is unclear which month’s inflation Labour will go with when deciding the new price of tuition fees.
But if the Government landed on the current rate of inflation - 2.7 per cent - tuition fees would rise to around £9,500.
Before Bridget Phillipson's statement this afternoon, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "As she will set out, the Government inherited a higher education sector facing severe financial challenges.
"Universities have suffered a significant real terms decline in their income and the gap between disadvantaged students and their peers is the highest on record."
He added: "The Government is determined to take the tough decisions necessary to put universities on a secure footing so that in turn they can deliver more opportunities for students and growth for our economy."
Labour’s manifesto claims "the current higher education funding settlement does not work for the taxpayer, universities, staff, or students".
Adding: "Labour will act to create a secure future for higher education and the opportunities it creates across the UK."
Earlier this year it was reported fees could rise to as high as £10,500 over the next five years.
At the time, government sources said Sir Keir Starmer’s government would prevent this from impacting the poorest children through the reintroduction of maintenance grants, which were worth up to £3,500 before being abolished by the Conservatives in 2016.
A Department of Education spokesperson told LBC: "We believe that every young person, regardless of their background, should have the opportunity to attend university.
"That’s why we are dedicated to creating a sustainable higher education funding system that supports students, expands opportunities, and upholds the excellence of our world-leading universities.
“The Government is committed to reviewing the higher education funding system to deliver for our economy, for universities, and for students and we will be announcing further details in due course.”
