Tuition fees for undergraduate degrees in England and Wales have increased to £9,535 per year, marking the first rise since 2017. Alongside this, maintenance loans have also been raised,
allowing students to borrow more for living expenses.
What's changed?
Fees: The £285 increase (a 3% rise) aligns with inflation, according to the Department for Education (DfE).
Maintenance loans:
Students from England living away from home (outside London) can now borrow up to £10,544, up from £10,227.
Why the increase?
Universities have faced growing financial pressure due to rising costs and a decline in international student numbers. In May, the Office for Students reported that over 40% of universities in England expected to be in deficit by summer 2025. The government has promised to announce a long-term funding plan in due course.
Tuition fees elsewhere in the UK
Northern Ireland:
- £4,855/year for local students
- £9,535/year for other UK students
Scotland:
- Free for most Scottish students
- £9,535/year for students from other parts of the UK
How do student loans work?
Most UK students can borrow for both tuition fees and living costs. Maintenance loans are means-tested, based on household income.
Interest accrues from the date the loan is taken.
Repayment terms vary by region.
In England, rule changes in 2023 mean graduates will pay more for longer. Martin Lewis of MoneySavingExpert says the changes will increase costs by thousands for low- to middle-income earners.
As of April 2025, graduates in England starting repayments had an average debt of £53,000, according to the Student Loans Company. Photo by Peter Facey, Wikimedia commons.