Tuition fees in the United Kingdom

{{Short description|Cost of higher education}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2014}} {{Use British English|date=February 2014}}

Tuition fees were first introduced across the entire United Kingdom in September 1998 under the Labour government of Tony Blair to help fund tuition for undergraduate and postgraduate certificate students at universities; students were required to pay up to £1,000 a year for tuition.<ref>{{cite news |date=2009-07-09 |title=BBC Q&A: Student Fees |publisher=BBC News |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/3013272.stm |access-date=2010-10-11}}</ref><ref name="AlleySmith20042">{{cite news |author=Stuart Alley and Mat Smith |date=2004-01-27 |title=Timeline: Tuition fees |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2004/jan/27/tuitionfees.students |access-date=2011-02-12}}</ref> However, only those who reach a certain salary threshold (£21,000) pay this fee through general taxation.

As a result of the devolved national administrations for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, there are now different arrangements for tuition fees in each of the nations. The Minister of State for Universities has oversight over British universities and the Student Loans Company.

==History== {{For timeline}} From 1945 onwards, fees were generally covered by local authorities and were not paid by students. This was formalised by the Education Act 1962 which established a mandate for local authorities to cover the fees. In practice, this meant that fees were not charged from then until the repeal of the act in 1998. During the period university tuition was effectively available for free.<ref>{{cite web |title=History & Policy |url=https://www.historyandpolicy.org/policy-papers/papers/university-fees-in-historical-perspective |website=History & Policy |date=8 February 2016}}</ref>

===Dearing report and £1,000 fee cap (1998)=== [[File:23-ron-dearing-1200.jpg|thumb|Lord Dearing, chair of the National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education]] In May 1996, Gillian Shephard, Secretary of State for Education and Employment, commissioned an inquiry, led by the then Chancellor of the University of Nottingham, Sir Ron Dearing, into the funding of British higher education over the next 20 years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.historyandpolicy.org/policy-papers/papers/university-fees-in-historical-perspective|title=University fees in historical perspective|last=Anderson|first=Robert|date=8 February 2016|website=History & Policy|access-date=19 July 2016|archive-date=17 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817132600/http://www.historyandpolicy.org/policy-papers/papers/university-fees-in-historical-perspective|url-status=live}}</ref> This National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education reported to the new Labour Government, in the summer of 1997, stating additional billions of funding would be needed over the period, including £350 million in 1998–99 and £565 million in 1999–2000, in order to expand student enrolment, provide more support for part-time students and ensure adequate infrastructure.<ref name="BBCPolitics1997">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/politics97/news/07/0723/dearbrief.shtml |title=The Dearing Report |work=BBC Politics 1997 |publisher=BBC |date=1997 |access-date=2011-02-12 |archive-date=14 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101114204736/http://www.bbc.co.uk/politics97/news/07/0723/dearbrief.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.leeds.ac.uk/educol/ncihe/ |title=The Dearing Report - List of recommendations |publisher=Leeds.ac.uk |access-date=2011-02-12 |archive-date=21 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101221190134/http://www.leeds.ac.uk/educol/ncihe/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The committee, as part of its brief, had controversially investigated the possibility of students contributing to the cost of this expansion, either through loans, a graduate tax, deferred contributions or means-testing state assistance, as their report notes:<ref>{{cite web|last1=Dearing|first1=Ronald|title=Higher Education in the learning society (1997) - Main Report|url=http://www.educationengland.org.uk/documents/dearing1997/dearing1997.html|website=Education In England|publisher=Her Majesty's Stationery Office|access-date=28 May 2017|archive-date=15 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815085757/http://www.educationengland.org.uk/documents/dearing1997/dearing1997.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

<blockquote> <small>20.40</small> We do not underestimate the strength of feeling on the issue of seeking a contribution towards tuition costs: nor do we dispute the logic of the arguments put forward. A detailed assessment of the issues has, however, convinced us that the arguments in favour of a contribution to tuition costs from graduates in work are strong, if not widely appreciated. They relate to equity between social groups, broadening participation, equity with part-time students in higher education and in further education, strengthening the student role in higher education, and identifying a new source of income that can be ring-fenced for higher education.

<small>20.41</small> We have, therefore, analysed the implications of a range of options against the criteria set out in paragraph 20.2. There is a wide array of options from which to choose, ranging from asking graduates to contribute only to their living costs to asking all graduates to contribute to their tuition costs. We have chosen to examine four options in depth. </blockquote>

In response to the findings, the Teaching and Higher Education Act 1998 was published on 26 November 1997, and enacted on 16 July 1998, part of which introduced tuition fees in all the countries of the United Kingdom.<ref name="BBCNews1999">{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/legislation/134626.stm |title=Teaching and Higher Education Act |publisher=BBC News |date=1999-05-06 |access-date=2011-02-12 |archive-date=7 April 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030407212825/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/how_the_education_systems_work/legislation/134626.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

The act introduced a means-tested method of payment for students based on the amount of money their families earned.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bolton |first=Paul |date=2010-11-23 |title=Tuition Fee Statistics |url=http://www.parliament.uk/briefingpapers/commons/lib/research/briefings/snsg-00917.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101226023251/http://www.parliament.uk/briefingpapers/commons/lib/research/briefings/snsg-00917.pdf |archive-date=2010-12-26 |website=Library of the House of Commons}} Page 2, section 1.1</ref> Starting with 1999–2000, maintenance grants for living expenses would also be replaced with loans and paid back at a rate of 9% of a graduate's income above £10,000.<ref name="BBCNews1999" />

Following devolution in 1999, the newly devolved governments in Scotland and Wales brought in their own acts on tuition fees. The Scottish Parliament established, and later abolished a graduate endowment to replace the fees.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bolton |first=Paul |date=2010-11-23 |title=Tuition Fee Statistics |url=http://www.parliament.uk/briefingpapers/commons/lib/research/briefings/snsg-00917.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101226023251/http://www.parliament.uk/briefingpapers/commons/lib/research/briefings/snsg-00917.pdf |archive-date=2010-12-26 |website=Library of the House of Commons}} Page 3, section 1.4</ref> Wales introduced maintenance grants of up to £1,500 in 2002, a value which has since risen to over £5000.<ref name="grants return">{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/1815597.stm |title=Grants return sets Wales apart |publisher=BBC News |date=2002-02-12 |access-date=2011-02-12 |archive-date=26 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090526120053/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/1815597.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Higher Education act and £3,000 fee cap (2004)=== In England, tuition fee caps rose with the Higher Education Act 2004. Under the act, universities in England could begin to charge variable fees of up to £3,000 a year for students enrolling on courses from the academic year of 2006–07 or later. The passing of the aforementioned act caused political controversy due to the influence of Scottish Labour MPs on the vote, which passed with a majority of just five.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2004-01-27|title=Scots MPs attacked over fees vote|language=en-GB|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/3432767.stm|access-date=2021-07-14|archive-date=20 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170820175839/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3432767.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> This policy was also introduced in Northern Ireland in 2006–07 and introduced in Wales in 2007–08. In 2009–10 the cap rose to £3,225 a year to take account of inflation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bolton |first=Paul |date=2010-11-23 |title=Tuition Fee Statistics |url=http://www.parliament.uk/briefingpapers/commons/lib/research/briefings/snsg-00917.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101226023251/http://www.parliament.uk/briefingpapers/commons/lib/research/briefings/snsg-00917.pdf |archive-date=2010-12-26 |website=Library of the House of Commons}} Page 2, section 1.2</ref>

===Browne review and £9,000 fee cap (2012)=== [[File:Official portrait of Lord Browne of Madingley crop 1.jpg|thumb|Lord Browne, chair of the Independent Review of Higher Education Funding and Student Finance]] Tuition fees were a major concern at the 2010 general election. The Liberal Democrats entered the election on a pledge to abolish tuition fees, but had already made preparations to abandon the policy before the election took place.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Watt |first1=Nicholas |title=Revealed: Lib Dems planned before election to abandon tuition fees pledge |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/nov/12/lib-dems-tuition-fees-clegg |website=The Guardian |date=12 November 2010}}</ref> The party entered into coalition government with the Conservatives, who supported an increase in fees. Following the Browne Review the cap was controversially raised to £9,000 a year, approximately treble the previous cap; this sparked large student protests in London. The intention from the government of the time was that most universities would charge about £6,000, and that the £9,000 rate would only be charged in "exceptional" circumstances.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Vasagar |first1=Jeevan |last2=Shepherd |first2=Jessica |title=Willetts announces student fees of up to £9,000 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2010/nov/03/willetts-announces-fees-of-9000 |website=The Guardian |date=3 November 2010}}</ref> In practice most universities immediately began to charge the maximum £9,000 fee.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Paige |first1=Jonathan |title=University fees table – why charge less than the max? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/2011/may/16/university-fees-why-charge |website=The Guardian |date=16 May 2011}}</ref> A judicial review against the raised fees failed in 2012, and so the new fee system came into use that September.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-17069298 | work=BBC News | title=Tuition fees case: Callum Hurley and Katy Moore lose | date=2012-02-17 | access-date=20 June 2018 | archive-date=31 December 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231105509/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-17069298 | url-status=live }}</ref>

The Liberal Democrats conceded that their U-turn on the issue contributed to their defeat at the 2015 election, during which 48 of their 56 seats were lost; the election returned a Conservative majority.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/may/12/nick-clegg-university-tuition-fees-norman-lamb |title=Nick Clegg's tuition fees 'debacle' undermined trust, says Norman Lamb |newspaper=The Guardian |date=12 May 2015 |last1=Weaver |first1=Matthew }}</ref> Further adjustments were put forth in the 2015 budget, with a proposed fee increase in line with inflation from the 2017–18 academic year onwards, and the planned scrapping of maintenance grants from September 2016.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/education-33444557|title=Student maintenance grants scrapped|work=BBC News|date=8 July 2015|access-date=20 June 2018|archive-date=30 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180730215410/https://www.bbc.com/news/education-33444557|url-status=live}}</ref> The changes were debated by the Third Delegated Legislation Committee in January 2016, rather than in the Commons. The lack of a vote on the matter drew criticism, as by circumventing the Commons the measures "automatically" became law.<ref name="mirror.co.uk">{{Cite web|url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/tories-bypass-mps-sneak-through-7178418|title=Tories bypass MPs to sneak through law abolishing all student grants|first=Jason|last=Beattie|date=14 January 2016|website=mirror|access-date=17 January 2016|archive-date=17 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160117085041/http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/tories-bypass-mps-sneak-through-7178418|url-status=live}}</ref> Tuition fees and perceptions about them are directly linked to satisfaction.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Maxwell-Stuart|first1=Rebecca|last2=Taheri|first2=Babak|last3=Paterson|first3=Audrey S.|last4=O'Gorman|first4=Kevin|last5=Jackson|first5=William|date=2016-11-24|title=Working together to increase student satisfaction: exploring the effects of mode of study and fee status |journal=Studies in Higher Education |volume=43 |issue= 8|pages= 1392–1404|doi=10.1080/03075079.2016.1257601 |s2cid=55674480}}</ref>

===May reform, and frozen fees (2018)=== Students voted in large numbers against the government in the 2017 general election and caused the Conservative Party to lose their majority.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Travis |first1=Alan |title=The youth for today: how the 2017 election changed the political landscape |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/jun/09/corbyn-may-young-voters-labour-surge |website=The Guardian |date=9 June 2017}}</ref> In February 2018, Prime Minister Theresa May launched a review of post-18 education funding, including university funding and possible alternatives to tuition fees and loans.<ref>{{cite web |title=Prime Minister launches major review of post-18 funding |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/prime-minister-launches-major-review-of-post-18-education |website=gov.uk |access-date=14 May 2019 |archive-date=14 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220414123458/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/prime-minister-launches-major-review-of-post-18-education |url-status=live }}</ref> The review, which was designed to appeal to students,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Riley-Smith |first1=Ben |title=Theresa May's tuition fees revolution to win over students |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/09/30/theresa-mays-tuition-fees-revolution-win-students/ |website=The Telegraph |date=30 September 2017}}</ref> resulted in the expansion of vocational studies in England, and the new T-levels.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Introduction of T Levels |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/introduction-of-t-levels/introduction-of-t-levels |access-date=2021-10-09 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=T Levels {{!}} The Next Level Qualification |url=https://www.tlevels.gov.uk/ |access-date=2021-10-09 |website=www.tlevels.gov.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=T Levels {{!}} Pearson qualifications |url=https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/t-levels.html |access-date=2021-10-09 |website=qualifications.pearson.com}}</ref> In February 2020, Labour Party leadership candidate Keir Starmer (who went on to win the 2020 Labour leadership election), promised to maintain the Labour Party's commitment to abolishing tuition fees,<ref>{{cite news |last= McGuinness |first= Alan |date= 11 February 2020 |title= Labour leadership: Sir Keir Starmer promises to keep Jeremy Corbyn's tuition fees stance |url= https://news.sky.com/story/labour-leadership-sir-keir-starmer-promises-to-keep-jeremy-corbyns-tuition-fees-stance-11931718 |work= Sky News |access-date= 22 April 2020 |archive-date= 11 April 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200411235001/https://news.sky.com/story/labour-leadership-sir-keir-starmer-promises-to-keep-jeremy-corbyns-tuition-fees-stance-11931718 |url-status= live }}</ref> but later indicated that Labour would not pursue free tertiary education should they win the next election.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-05-02 |title=Labour set to ditch pledge for free university tuition, Starmer says |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-65454944 |access-date=2023-05-20}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Dropping tuition fees pledge will raise questions over how fast Starmer wants change |url=https://news.sky.com/story/dropping-tuition-fees-pledge-will-raise-questions-over-how-fast-starmer-wants-change-12871288 |access-date=2023-05-20 |website=Sky News |language=en}}</ref> This U-turn on policy was criticised by the Green Party of England and Wales, who in contrast support scrapping university tuition fees in the UK, as well as abolishing outstanding debts for undergraduate tuition fees and maintenance loans, alongside any related interest fees.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/2023/05/03/students-pay-a-heavy-price-from-latest-starmer-u-turn-say-greens/ |title= Students pay a heavy price from latest Starmer U-turn say Greens |date= 3 May 2023 |website= greenparty.org.uk |publisher= Green Party of England and Wales |access-date= 2 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://policy.greenparty.org.uk/our-policies/long-term-goals/education/ |title= Education |website= greenparty.org.uk |publisher= Green Party of England and Wales |access-date= 2 August 2023}}</ref>

The fees remained frozen at £9,250 until 2025. This ultimately caused a crisis in university funding as high inflation eroded the value of tuition fees. The £9,250 fees charged in 2023 were worth only £6,500 in 2012 terms.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Weale |first1=Sally |last2=correspondent |first2=Sally Weale Education |title=Funding model for UK higher education is 'broken', say university VCs |url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2023/may/31/funding-model-for-uk-higher-education-is-broken-say-university-vcs |website=The Guardian |date=31 May 2023}}</ref> This was the cause of mass layoffs in the sector beginning in late 2023, affecting 50 institutions.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lawford |first1=Melissa |title=The ticking time bomb under Britain's universities |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2023/12/17/british-university-finances-ticking-time-bomb/ |website=The Telegraph |date=17 December 2023}}</ref> By 2024 universities were generally taking on domestic students at a loss, with the actual cost of tuition around £11,000; or £12,500 in Russell Group universities. Universities have made up the difference by charging higher fees to international students, as their fees are unlimited, but international applications began to decline that year after the government tightened visa rules. Approximately 40% of UK universities are currently running budget deficits, and the Office for Students has forecast that this may lead to mergers and closures of universities without intervention.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Adams |first1=Richard |title=Next government must make hard university funding decisions, fast |url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/article/2024/may/19/next-government-must-make-hard-university-funding-decisions-fast |website=The Guardian |date=19 May 2024}}</ref>

In November 2024, it was announced that fees would rise to £9,535 from September 2025, a £285 rise.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Changes to tuition fees: 2025 to 2026 academic year |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tuition-fees-and-student-support-2025-to-2026-academic-year/changes-to-tuition-fees-2025-to-2026-academic-year |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}</ref> The National Union of Students described the rise as a "sticking plaster", with the government stating they would announce 'major reform' at a later date.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-04 |title=University tuition fees rising to £9,535 in England |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy0gjyj4979o |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Current systems== {{See also|Student loans and grants in the United Kingdom}}

===England=== [[File:Entry ratio.png|thumb|280px|The entry rate ratio for the most advantaged to most disadvantaged groups between 2006 and 2016 shows a decrease in the ratio.<ref>{{Cite web |title=[ZIP file] EoC16 Dataset |url=https://www.ucas.com/file/86461/download?token=iMCCLWdB |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170217024122/https://www.ucas.com/file/86461/download?token=iMCCLWdB |archive-date=2017-02-17 |website=UCAS}}</ref>]] thumb|280px|Participation rates in higher education in England from 2005–06 to 2015–16, showing the drop and rebound in entry rates following the increase in tuition fees for students starting in 2011/12<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/participation-rates-in-higher-education-2006-to-2016|title=Participation rates in higher education: 2006 to 2016|website=GOV.UK|access-date=26 October 2017|archive-date=27 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171027030139/https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/participation-rates-in-higher-education-2006-to-2016|url-status=live}}</ref> In England, undergraduate tuition fees are capped at £9,790 a year for UK and Irish students. Due to Brexit, starting in autumn 2021, EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals are no longer eligible for the home fee status, meaning higher fees and no access to UK government loans unless they have been granted a settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Student Support in England:Written statement - HCWS310|url=https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2020-06-23/HCWS310/|access-date=2020-08-24|website=UK Parliament|language=en|archive-date=22 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200822065951/https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2020-06-23/HCWS310/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Overseas Students: EU Nationals Question for Department for Education - UIN 106375, tabled on 20 October 2020 - by Daniel Zeichner - answered by Michelle Donelan|url=https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2020-10-20/106375|access-date=2020-11-06|website=UK Parliament|language=en|archive-date=6 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201106120922/https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2020-10-20/106375|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-06-24|title=EU students will be charged more to study at UK universities from 2021|url=https://www.euronews.com/2020/06/24/brexit-eu-students-will-be-charged-more-to-study-at-uk-universities-from-september-2021|access-date=2020-08-24|website=euronews|language=en|archive-date=29 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729073226/https://www.euronews.com/2020/06/24/brexit-eu-students-will-be-charged-more-to-study-at-uk-universities-from-september-2021|url-status=live}}</ref> Around 76% of all institutions charged the full amount of tuition fees in 2015–16.<ref name=UCAStuitionfees>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ucas.com/finance/undergraduate-tuition-fees-and-student-loans|title=Undergraduate tuition fees and student loans|date=20 October 2014|website=UCAS|access-date=23 March 2020|archive-date=16 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200416200112/https://www.ucas.com/finance/undergraduate-tuition-fees-and-student-loans|url-status=live}}</ref> A loan of the same size is available for most universities, although students at private institutions are only eligible for £6,000 a year loans.

Since 2017–18, the fee cap is meant to be raised in line with inflation. In October 2017, Prime Minister Theresa May announced that tuition fees would be temporarily frozen at £9,250.<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-8097/CBP-8097.pdf|title=Prime Minister's announcement on changes to student funding|last1=Hubble|first1=Sue|last2=Bolton|first2=Paul|publisher=House of Commons Library|year=2018|location=London|access-date=12 October 2018|archive-date=13 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181013014403/http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-8097/CBP-8097.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> {{As of|2018}}, this temporary freeze remained in place and was expected to be extended as a university funding review is carried out.<ref name="Coughlan">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/education-43106736|title=May rules out scrapping tuition fees|last=Coughlan|first=Sean|date=2018-02-19|work=BBC News|access-date=2018-10-12|language=en-GB|archive-date=12 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181012230154/https://www.bbc.com/news/education-43106736|url-status=live}}</ref> The latter, which was launched by Theresa May, was chaired by Philip Augar.<ref name="Coughlan"/>

In the 2015 spending review, the government also proposed a freeze in the repayment threshold for tuition fee loans at £21,000.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/student/news/spending-review-2015-government-betrays-a-generation-of-students-by-secretly-backtracking-on-a-2012-a6748801.html|title=The Government has 'betrayed' students by not revealing something vital in the Autumn Statement|date=25 November 2015|website=The Independent|access-date=23 March 2020|archive-date=23 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323152540/https://www.independent.co.uk/student/news/spending-review-2015-government-betrays-a-generation-of-students-by-secretly-backtracking-on-a-2012-a6748801.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=July 2015 |others=Department for Business Innovation & Skills |title=Consultation on freezing the student loan repayment threshold |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/447565/BIS-15-445-student-loan-repayment-threshold-consultation.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303194013/https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/447565/BIS-15-445-student-loan-repayment-threshold-consultation.pdf |archive-date=2016-03-03 |website=GOV.UK}}</ref>

====Effect==== Many commentators suggested that the 2012 rise in tuition fees in England would put poorer students off applying to university.<ref name=guardian18112010>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2010/nov/18/ipsos-mori-poll-tuition-fees-cuts|title=University tuition fees hike 'will deter most poorer students' – poll|first1=Rachel|last1=Williams|first2=Jeevan|last2=Vasagar|newspaper=The Guardian |date=18 November 2010|via=www.theguardian.com|access-date=13 December 2016|archive-date=10 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170610061650/https://www.theguardian.com/education/2010/nov/18/ipsos-mori-poll-tuition-fees-cuts|url-status=live}}</ref> However, the gap between rich and poor students has slightly narrowed (from 30.5% in 2010 to 29.8% in 2013) since the introduction of higher fees.<ref name="guardian13072014">{{Cite web |last1=Adams |first1=Richard |date=12 August 2014 |title=University tuition fee rise has not deterred poorer students from applying |url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2014/aug/13/university-tuition-fee-rise-poorer-students |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160427104400/http://www.theguardian.com/education/2014/aug/13/university-tuition-fee-rise-poorer-students |archive-date=27 April 2016 |access-date=13 December 2016 |website=The Guardian |via=}}</ref> This may be because universities have used tuition fees to invest in bursaries and outreach schemes.<ref name=NS122015>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/education/2015/12/worst-place-poor-students-uk-scotland|title=The worst place for poor students in the UK? Scotland|website=www.newstatesman.com|date=8 June 2021|access-date=23 March 2020|archive-date=23 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323152537/https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/education/2015/12/worst-place-poor-students-uk-scotland|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2016, The Guardian noted that the number of disadvantaged students applying to university had increased by 72% from 2006 to 2015, a bigger rise than in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.<ref name="Guardian28012016">{{Cite web |last=Robbins |first=Martin |date=28 January 2016 |title=The evidence suggests I was completely wrong about tuition fees |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/the-lay-scientist/2016/jan/28/the-evidence-suggests-i-was-completely-wrong-about-tuition-fees |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160128144453/https://www.theguardian.com/science/the-lay-scientist/2016/jan/28/the-evidence-suggests-i-was-completely-wrong-about-tuition-fees |archive-date=28 January 2016 |access-date=28 January 2016 |website=The Guardian}}</ref> It wrote that most of the gap between richer and poorer students tends to open up between Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 4 (i.e. at secondary school), rather than when applying for university, and so the money raised from tuition fees should be spent there instead.<ref name=Guardian28012016/>

A 2018 study by Murphy, Scott-Clayton, and Wyness found that the introduction of tuition fees had "increased funding per head, rising enrolments, and a narrowing of the participation gap between advantaged and disadvantaged students".<ref>{{cite journal |first1=Richard |last1=Murphy |first2=Judith |last2=Scott-Clayton |first3=Gillian |last3=Wyness |title=The End of Free College in England: Implications for Quality, Enrolments, and Equity |journal=NBER Working Paper No. 23888 |date=February 2018 |doi=10.3386/w23888 |s2cid=158643373 |url=http://cep.lse.ac.uk/pubs/download/dp1501.pdf |doi-access=free |access-date=24 September 2019 |archive-date=11 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211222423/http://cep.lse.ac.uk/pubs/download/dp1501.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Northern Ireland=== Tuition fees are currently capped at £4,030 in Northern Ireland, with loans of the same size available from Student Finance NI.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/tuition-fees|title=Tuition fees|date=9 December 2015|website=nidirect|access-date=23 March 2020|archive-date=23 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323152634/https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/tuition-fees|url-status=live}}</ref> Loan repayments are made when income rises above £17,335 a year, with graduates paying back a percentage of their earnings above this threshold.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/repaying-your-student-loan|title=Repaying your student loan|date=10 December 2015|website=nidirect|access-date=23 March 2020|archive-date=23 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323152536/https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/repaying-your-student-loan|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Scotland=== [[File:First Minister- Tuition fees commitment “writ in stane”.jpg|thumb|right|Alex Salmond alongside a rock at Heriot-Watt University inscribed with the Scottish Government's continued commitment to having no tuition fees, pictured in November 2014]] Tuition fees are handled by the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS), which does not charge fees from what it defines as "Young Students", or "Dependent Students". Young Students are defined as those under 25, without dependent children, marriage, civil partnership or cohabiting partner, who have not been outside of full-time education for more than three years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.saas.gov.uk/_forms/independent_young_status.pdf|title=Independent /Young (Dependent) Status|website=SAAS|access-date=2019-10-10|archive-date=11 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211222425/https://www.saas.gov.uk/_forms/independent_young_status.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Fees exist for those outside the young student definition. The tuition fees are usually £1,820 for undergraduate courses for Scottish & Irish students, and £9,250 for students from the rest of the UK. Due to Brexit, from Autumn 2021 EU students will have to pay international tuition fees in Scotland ranging from £10,000 to £26,000 per year depending on the university and degree type unless they have been granted a settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme.<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-53354933|title = Free university tuition for EU students in Scotland ends|work = BBC News|date = 9 July 2020|access-date = 19 August 2020|archive-date = 4 August 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200804002009/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-53354933|url-status = live}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.study.eu/article/tuition-fees-in-scotland|title=Tuition fees in Scotland|website=Study.eu|access-date=2019-10-10|archive-date=10 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191010202307/https://www.study.eu/article/tuition-fees-in-scotland|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Tuition fees for students undertaking a full-time course 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 |url=http://www.saas.gov.uk/_forms/fees_student.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160126081832/http://www.saas.gov.uk/_forms/fees_student.pdf |archive-date=2016-01-26 |website=SAAS - The Student Awards Agency for Scotland}}</ref> At the postgraduate level, Scots and RUK usually pay the same amount, commonly between £5,000 and £15,000 per year, while tuition fees for international students can run as high as £30,000 per year.<ref name=":0" />

Fee discrimination against students from the rest of the UK has been challenged in the past but deemed legal.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/law/2011/aug/24/scotland-university-fees-human-rights|title=Does Scotland's university fees system breach human rights laws? {{!}} Matthew Kelly|last=Kelly|first=Matthew|date=2011-08-24|work=The Guardian|access-date=2019-10-10|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=10 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191010202855/https://www.theguardian.com/law/2011/aug/24/scotland-university-fees-human-rights|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13090853.legal-challenge-over-fees-for-english-students-fails/|title=Legal challenge over fees for English students fails|website=HeraldScotland|date=4 February 2013 |language=en|access-date=2019-10-10|archive-date=10 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191010202934/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13090853.legal-challenge-over-fees-for-english-students-fails/|url-status=live}}</ref> The Scottish government confirmed in April 2019 that, with regards to tuition fees, EU students would be treated the same as Scottish students for their whole course if they begin studies up until 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.gov.scot/news/extension-of-free-tuition-for-eu-students|title=Extension of free tuition for EU students|website=Scottish Government News|language=en|access-date=2019-10-10|archive-date=10 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191010014330/https://news.gov.scot/news/extension-of-free-tuition-for-eu-students|url-status=live}}</ref>

The system has been in place since 2007 when graduate endowments were abolished.<ref name="www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2008/02/28172530">{{cite web|url=http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2008/02/28172530|title=Scottish Government - Graduate endowment scrapped|date=28 February 2008 |access-date=29 October 2014|archive-date=29 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141029083257/http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2008/02/28172530|url-status=live}}</ref> Labour's education spokesperson Rhona Brankin criticised the Scottish system for failing to address student poverty.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/7268101.stm |title=MSPs vote to scrap endowment fee |publisher=BBC News |date=2008-02-28 |access-date=2011-02-12 |archive-date=1 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200201205811/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7268101.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Scotland has fewer disadvantaged students than England, Wales or Northern Ireland and disadvantaged students receive around £560 a year less in financial support than their counterparts in England do.<ref name=NS122015/>

===Wales=== In Wales tuition fees are capped at £9,250<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-02-06 |title=Welsh tuition fees to rise by £250 a year from September |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-68218864 |access-date=2024-06-21 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> for all UK students as of September 2024, having increased by £250 from the previous £9,000. Welsh students may apply for a non-means tested tuition fee loan to cover 100 per cent of tuition fee costs wherever they choose to study in the UK.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Students who Started a Course on or After 1 August 2018|url=https://www.studentfinancewales.co.uk/undergraduate-students/continuing-students/what-financial-support-is-available/tuition-fee-support/students-who-started-a-course-on-or-after-1-august-2018.aspx|website=www.studentfinancewales.co.uk|access-date=2020-05-04|archive-date=4 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804223013/https://www.studentfinancewales.co.uk/undergraduate-students/continuing-students/what-financial-support-is-available/tuition-fee-support/students-who-started-a-course-on-or-after-1-august-2018.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>

Welsh students used to be able to apply for fee grants of up to £5,190, in addition to a £3,810 loan to cover tuition fee costs.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |title=Student Finance |url=https://www.which.co.uk/money/university-and-student-finance/student-finance |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323152537/https://www.which.co.uk/money/university-and-student-finance/student-finance |archive-date=23 March 2020 |access-date=23 March 2020 |website=Which? Money}}</ref> However, the Welsh Government changed this system after the Diamond Review was published. Today students have access to a means tested loan system where students from the poorest households can be eligible for a grant of up to £10,124 if studying in London or up to £8,100 if studying in the rest of the UK.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Student finance: higher education: Full-time undergraduates|url=https://www.gov.wales/student-finance/full-time-undergraduates |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=www.gov.wales |language=en}}</ref> The changes became effective for students starting university in September 2018. The Welsh Government argued this would allow for higher maintenance loans and grants and these costs are the biggest barrier for poorer students to attend university.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Wales unveils means-tested university grants of up to £11,000 a year|url=http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/nov/22/wales-unveils-means-tested-university-grants-of-up-to-11000|date=2016-11-22|website=the Guardian|language=en|access-date=2020-05-04|archive-date=28 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928102735/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/nov/22/wales-unveils-means-tested-university-grants-of-up-to-11000|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Interest fees== Students and graduates pay interest fees on student loans. Interest starts being added to the student loan from when the first payment is made.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.gov.uk/repaying-your-student-loan/what-you-pay |title= Repaying your student loan |website= GOV.UK |access-date= 7 November 2019 |archive-date= 14 September 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190914092946/https://www.gov.uk/repaying-your-student-loan/what-you-pay |url-status= live }}</ref> In 2012 this rate was set at the Retail Price Index (RPI) plus up to 3% depending on income. Students who started university between 1998 and 2011 pay Bank of England base rate plus 1% or RPI, whichever is lower. Students who started university before 1998 pay interest set at the RPI rate. As a consequence of the 2012 change, students who graduated in 2017 pay between 3.1% and 6.1% interest, despite the Bank of England base rate being 0.25%.<ref name=guardian-20170411>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/money/2017/apr/11/student-loan-interest-rate-rise-uk-inflation-brexit |title=Student loan interest rate set to rise by a third after UK inflation surge |last=Jones |first=Rupert |newspaper=The Guardian |date=11 April 2017 |access-date=8 July 2017 |archive-date=8 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170708025047/https://www.theguardian.com/money/2017/apr/11/student-loan-interest-rate-rise-uk-inflation-brexit |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2018, interest fees rose again, this time to 6.3% for anyone who started studying after 2012.<ref>{{cite news |last= Partington |first= Richard |date= 18 April 2018 |title= Ministers under fire as student loan interest hits 6.3% |url= https://www.theguardian.com/education/2018/apr/18/ministers-under-fire-as-student-loan-interest-hits-63 |work= The Guardian |access-date= 7 November 2019 |archive-date= 29 December 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20191229144005/https://www.theguardian.com/education/2018/apr/18/ministers-under-fire-as-student-loan-interest-hits-63 |url-status= live }}</ref>

If those who have taken out a student loan do not update their details with the Student Loans Company when receiving a letter or an email to update their employment status, or upon leaving the UK for 3 or more months, start a new job or become self-employed, or stop working, then they can possibly face a higher interest rate on their loan.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.gov.uk/repaying-your-student-loan/update-your-employment-details |title= Repaying your student loan |website= GOV.UK |access-date= 7 November 2019 |archive-date= 13 October 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20191013200525/https://www.gov.uk/repaying-your-student-loan/update-your-employment-details |url-status= live }}</ref>

In June 2019, the Brexit Party stated it would scrap all interest paid on student tuition fees and has suggested reimbursing graduates for historic interest payments made on their loans.<ref>{{cite news |date= 30 June 2019 |title= Brexit Party says it will scrap interest on tuition fees |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-48819725 |work= BBC News |access-date= 7 November 2019 |archive-date= 19 November 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20191119143936/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-48819725 |url-status= live }}</ref> In August 2019, government figures uncovered by the Labour Party showed that "students will owe a staggering £8.6bn in interest alone on their loans within five years ... almost double the current debt".<ref>{{cite news |last= Merrick |first= Rob |date= 12 August 2019 |title= Students will owe £8.6bn in loan interest alone within five years, official figures show |url= https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/student-loan-debt-interest-rates-government-a9054806.html |work= The Independent |access-date= 7 November 2019 |archive-date= 7 November 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20191107153110/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/student-loan-debt-interest-rates-government-a9054806.html |url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last= Adams |first= Richard |date= 12 August 2019 |title= Graduates in England face increasing debt burden, Labour warns |url= https://www.theguardian.com/education/2019/aug/12/graduates-in-england-face-increasing-debt-burden-labour-warns |work= The Guardian |access-date= 7 November 2019 |archive-date= 7 November 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20191107153111/https://www.theguardian.com/education/2019/aug/12/graduates-in-england-face-increasing-debt-burden-labour-warns |url-status= live }}</ref>

==Possible alternatives== There have been two main proposed alternative ways of funding university studies: from general taxation or by a graduate tax.

===Funding from general taxation=== Tuition is paid for by general taxation in Germany, although only around 30% of young people gain higher education qualification there, whereas in the UK the comparable figure is 48%.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/education-34132664|title=How Germany abolished tuition fees|first=Sean|last=Coughlan|work=BBC News|date=3 September 2015|access-date=23 March 2020|archive-date=2 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200602080531/https://www.bbc.com/news/education-34132664|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.datenportal.bmbf.de/portal/de/Tabelle-1.9.5.html|title=Tabelle 1.9.5 - BMBF Daten-Portal|last=BMBF|first=Team Daten-Portal des|website=Daten-Portal des Bundesministeriums für Bildung und Forschung - BMBF|language=de|access-date=2019-10-10|archive-date=10 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191010220033/https://www.datenportal.bmbf.de/portal/de/Tabelle-1.9.5.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Fully or partly funding universities from general taxation has been criticised by the Liberal Democrats as a 'tax cut for the rich and a tax rise for the poor' because people would be taxed to pay for something that many would not derive a benefit from, while graduates generally earn more due to their qualifications and only have to pay them back.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.libdemvoice.org/opinion-labours-tuition-fees-policy-is-a-tax-cut-for-the-rich-paid-for-by-the-poor-44497.html| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150205030843/http://www.libdemvoice.org/opinion-labours-tuition-fees-policy-is-a-tax-cut-for-the-rich-paid-for-by-the-poor-44497.html| archive-date = 2015-02-05| title = Opinion: Labour's Tuition Fees policy is a tax cut for the rich, paid for by the poor}}</ref>

Jeremy Corbyn, former Labour leader, stated that he would have removed tuition fees and would have instead funded higher education by increasing national insurance and corporation tax.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/scrap-tuition-fees-and-give-students-grants-again-says-labours-jeremy-corbyn-10392769.html|title=Jeremy Corbyn: Scrap tuition fees and give students grants again, says Labour leadership contender|work=The Independent|access-date=13 September 2015|archive-date=23 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923135832/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/scrap-tuition-fees-and-give-students-grants-again-says-labours-jeremy-corbyn-10392769.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In the long term this plan would have been expected to cost the government about £8 billion a year.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/election-2017-40000409|title=Reality Check: What would wiping student debt cost?|work=BBC News|date=22 May 2017|access-date=23 March 2020|archive-date=19 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190419153221/https://www.bbc.com/news/election-2017-40000409|url-status=live}}</ref>

In July 2017, Lord Adonis, former Number 10 Policy Unit staffer and education minister largely responsible for introducing tuition fees, said that the system had become a "Frankenstein's monster" putting many students over £50,000 in debt. He argued the system should either be scrapped or fees reverted to between £1,000 and £3,000 per the initial scheme.<ref name=guardian-20170707a>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2017/jul/07/tuition-fees-should-be-scrapped-says-architect-of-fees-andrew-adonis |title=Tuition fees should be scrapped, says 'architect' of fees Andrew Adonis |last=Adams |first=Richard |newspaper=The Guardian |date=7 July 2017 |access-date=8 July 2017 |archive-date=19 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819033932/https://www.theguardian.com/education/2017/jul/07/tuition-fees-should-be-scrapped-says-architect-of-fees-andrew-adonis |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=guardian-20170707b>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jul/07/tuition-fees-scrapped-debts-graduates-andrew-adonis |title=I put up tuition fees. It's now clear they have to be scrapped |last=Adonis |first=Andrew |newspaper=The Guardian |date=7 July 2017 |access-date=8 July 2017 |archive-date=7 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707233239/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jul/07/tuition-fees-scrapped-debts-graduates-andrew-adonis |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Graduate tax=== During the 2015 Labour leadership election, Andy Burnham said that he would introduce a graduate tax to replace fees. He was ultimately unsuccessful in his bid for leadership. A graduate tax has been criticised because there would be no way to recover the money from students who move to a different country.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Goodman |first1=A. |last2=Leicester |first2=A. |last3=Reed |first3=H. |date=2002 |title=A Graduate Tax for the UK |url=http://www.ifs.org.uk/budgets/gb2002/chap8.pdf |url-status=live |journal=IFS (2002) the Green Budget 2002 |pages=122–130 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924033201/http://www.ifs.org.uk/budgets/gb2002/chap8.pdf |archive-date=2015-09-24 |via=IFS}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist|30em}}

==External links== {{Commons category|2010 London student protests}} * [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2004/8/contents Text of Higher Education Act 2004, which introduced top-up fees] * [https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/3013272.stm BBC News Q&A: Student Fees] * [https://www.theguardian.com/money/2005/aug/04/highereducation.politics The Guardian: All Change] (guide to fees) * [http://www.slc.co.uk Student Loans Company] (the body responsible for providing and administering student loans in the UK) * [http://www.leeds.ac.uk/educol/ncihe/ Dearing Report]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tuition Fees In The United Kingdom}} Category:Articles which contain graphical timelines Category:Education finance in the United Kingdom Category:Higher education in the United Kingdom