English university fees to rise for first time since 2017 to try to fix funding crisis

YouGov

04/11/2024 17:15

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      University tuition fees in England to rise with inflation
    

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      Many universities have been facing funding crisis
    

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      Only 9% of the public support the move, poll shows
    

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      Government under pressure since election victory  
    

  
    By Andrew MacAskill
       LONDON, Nov 4 (Reuters) - The British government
announced plans to raise the cost of university tuition fees for
domestic students in England on Monday for the first time in
eight years, in an attempt to improve the finances of many
crisis-hit institutions.
    Nearly half of British universities are expected to record a
loss this year because of a long freeze in the price of fees and
a decline in lucrative overseas postgraduate students following
an immigration crackdown by the last government.
    Education Minister Bridget Phillipson said the annual cost
of tuition fees for domestic students would rise in line with
inflation from next year, the first increase since 2017.
    "This government has not hesitated to grip the challenges we
face and take the tough decisions," she told parliament, saying
fees will rise to 9,535 pounds ($12,336) next year.
    Britain boasts some of the most famous and sought-after
universities in the world, from Oxford and Cambridge to Imperial
College London. Universities say they boost innovation, provide
a form of soft power by boosting cultural and commercial ties,
and help the economy by creating more than 760,000 jobs. 
    Many face a funding crisis, however, with some facing
closure unless they dramatically cut costs, the sector's
regulator said in May.
    Tuition fees for domestic students have only increased by 
250 pounds in the past 12 years.  
    British universities do not have the large endowments
enjoyed by colleges in the United States. But the idea of
raising fees is politically controversial over concerns it could
prevent poorer students from attending university.
    Only 9% of people in Britain support an increase in tuition
fees, YouGov found last month. 
    When British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who won a
landslide election victory in the summer, was running to be
Labour leader in 2020 he called for university tuition fees to
be abolished. He dropped that position, however, when his party
was ahead in the opinion polls.  
    Labour is under pressure after announcing big increases in
tax and spending to fund public services. One opinion poll over
the weekend showed Labour had lost its lead over the
Conservative Party for the first time in three years. 
    
 ($1 = 0.7707 pounds)

 (Reporting by Andrew MacAskill, editing by Ed Osmond)
 ((Andrew.MacAskill@thomsonreuters.com; +447818584430; Reuters
Messaging: andrew.macaskill@thomsonreuters.com))