The Education Secretary of the university, Bridget Phillipson, will announce the increase which will see tuition fees rise in line with the Retail Price Index inflation.
The fee rise is expected to come into force from September 2025, meaning that it will affect A-level students who are currently applying to universities.
Tuition fees have remained frozen at £9,250 since 2017. It is unclear which month’s inflation figures Labour will choose to link fees to, but matching them to the current rate of 2.7% would see fees rise to about £9,500 from next year.
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Previous reports have indicated that the Government is planning to increase tuition fees for students, raising them to a total of £10,500 over the next five years. However, sources from The Telegraph suggest that government ministers are hesitant to make any promises regarding further increases in tuition fees beyond the next academic year. This cautious approach comes as they are considering a complete reform of the current system of higher education funding.
This potential change in tuition fees comes in response to mounting concerns that many educational institutions are currently facing serious financial difficulties. In fact, recent surveys have shown that approximately 40 percent of English universities are bracing for a significant drop in their finances, with many of them expecting to operate at a deficit within this academic year. This situation has raised alarm bells among educators and policymakers, highlighting the urgent need for a review of how universities are funded and supported moving forward.