Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson has announced that the International students in the UK may face increased tuition fees due to inflation.
While domestic tuition fees will remain unchanged at £9,250, universities in financial trouble should not expect government bailouts, despite widespread job cuts and course closures.
Phillipson assured the continuation of the graduate route, allowing international students to work in the UK post-graduation.
She emphasized the economic and cultural contributions of international students, criticizing the previous government’s adversarial approach to higher education.
The fee hike comes amid a university funding crisis, with 66 universities already cutting jobs and courses. Phillipson called for better budget management and stricter regulation within universities.
UK study visa applications hit record lows earlier this year after rules banning master’s students from bringing dependents were introduced.
Negative messaging around migration and international students further damaged the UK’s appeal.
Viviene Stern, chief executive of Universities UK, called for positive government support to reassure universities.
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Recruitment from key markets like Nigeria, China, and India has suffered due to the ban on dependents and currency devaluation. If tuition fees increase, international student numbers may decline further, deepening financial strains on UK universities.
