How much are tuition fees in the UK and is university worth it?
How much are tuition fees going up in England and Wales?
The annual cost of an undergraduate degree in England and Wales will go up from £9,250 to £9,535 in August 2025.Undergraduate students will also be able to borrow more to help meet their day-to-day living costs.For example, the maximum maintenance loan for students from England who live away from their parents outside London will increase from £10,227 to £10,544 a year.When the Department for Education (DfE) in England first announced the rises in November 2024, it said they were in line with inflation.
Why are tuition fees going up?
Warnings have been mounting about the state of university finances.The regulator in England, the Office for Students, warned that more than four in 10 universities were expecting to be in a financial deficit by summer 2025.The recent period of high inflation meant tuition fees were worth less than they used to be, and there have been fewer international students to make up the financial shortfall.Students have been warned they could see cuts to staffing and courses as a result..
How much are university fees in Northern Ireland and Scotland?
UK nations set their own fees.In Northern Ireland, the maximum annual cost of an undergraduate degree is £4,855 for Northern Irish students or £9,535 for other UK students.In Scotland, undergraduate tuition is free for the majority of Scottish students and £9,535 for other UK students.
What does student accommodation cost across the UK?
Student rents have risen sharply in recent years, according to the latest research by the Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi) and housing charity Unipol. Average annual rent across 10 university towns and cities - excluding London and Edinburgh - rose from £6,520 in 2021-22 to £7,475 in 2023-24.Student rents were particularly high in some cities like Nottingham and Bristol, where the average cost was £8,427 and £9,200 respectively.Separate figures for London found that the average rent for purpose-built student accommodation in the capital was £13,595 in 2024-25.
Hepi has warned that maintenance loans in England only just cover average rent - and that without family support or part-time work, students "will have no money to live off" after paying housing costs.Its 2025 student survey found the percentage of full-time undergraduates in paid employment during term time was 68% - up from 50% three years ago.Students also need to budget for other big expenses, such as food, transport, course materials and going out.Research by the Save the Student website, based on a survey of about 1,000 UK respondents, suggests that students spent an average of £564 per week in 2024, on top of their rent.
How do student loans work?
Most UK students are eligible for a tuition fee loan. Maintenance loans are also available for living costs. These are means-tested, so the amount you get depends on your family's income.You are charged interest on your total loan from the day you take it out. Eligibility and repayment rules differ across the UK.Loan repayment rules changed in England in 2023, meaning students are likely to pay back more, over a longer period of time, than those who went to university earlier.MoneySavingExpert.com's Martin Lewis said the extended repayment period would increase "costs by thousands" for lower and mid-earners.Graduates in England who became liable to pay back their loans in April 2025 had an average debt of £53,000, according to the Student Loans Company.
What extra financial help can students get?
Eligible students in Wales and Northern Ireland can claim maintenance grants which do not have to be repaid.Full-time undergraduates normally resident in Wales are entitled to at least £1,000. Students from the poorest backgrounds who choose to study in London can get up to £10,124.In Northern Ireland the maximum grant is £3,475.The Scottish government offers financial support to certain categories of students, such as those with dependants.Across the UK, students in financial difficulty can apply for hardship funding and they may also be entitled to financial assistance from charities.
Will I earn more money with a degree?
In general, most graduates can expect to earn more than non-graduates, according to the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).However, it suggests the amount of extra money earned after a university education has declined.According to HESA's survey of 2020-21 graduates, the average salary reported 15 months after gaining a degree was £29,699.Earnings also depend on the subject studied and university attended.Research by the IFS think tank in England suggests, on average, women who studied creative arts and languages degrees earned the same amount in their lifetime as if they had not gone to university.Women who studied law, economics or medicine earned over £250,000 more during their career than if they had not got a degree.Men who studied creative arts on average earned less across their lifetimes than if they had not attended university. Male medicine or economics graduates earned £500,000 more.
Attending university can help students from poorer backgrounds earn more than their parents might have done, according to research by education charity the Sutton Trust in England.But only a fifth of graduates who were eligible for free school meals went on to be in the top 20% of earners - compared to almost half of graduates who attended private schools.The Sutton Trust says attending a selective university - such as those in the Russell Group of leading universities - gives young people the "best chance of being socially mobile".
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
25 minutes ago
- The Independent
Labour does not deserve to win next election if it does not deliver change, says Reeves
Labour does not deserve to win the next election if it does not succeed in changing the country, Rachel Reeves has said, acknowledging that some voters were disappointed with the party's time in office. Speaking at the Edinburgh Fringe festival, the chancellor said she is 'impatient for change' but said ministers 'can't do everything straight away, all at once.' It comes amid growing concern over the direction of Sir Keir Starmer 's government from voters on both the left and the right, with the prime minister's approval rating hitting an all time low last month. Speaking to Iain Dale, Ms Reeves said: 'The reason people voted Labour at the last election is they want to change and they were unhappy with the way that the country was being governed. 'They know that we inherited a mess. They know it's not easy to put it right, but people are impatient for change. 'I'm impatient for change as well, but I've also got the job of making sure the sums always add up – and it doesn't always make you popular because you can't do anything you might want to do.' 'You certainly can't do everything straight away, all at once', she said, adding that Labour did not 'deserve' to win the next election if it fails to deliver the change it promised. The chancellor also claimed the government has got the balance 'about right' when it comes to taxation, amid mounting questions over how the government will raise the money to fill the black hole in the public finances left by a series of major U-turns and spending commitments. 'Of course you're going to disappoint people. No one wants to pay more taxes ', she said. 'Everyone wants more money than public spending – and borrowing is not a free option, because you've got to pay for it. 'I think people know those sort of constraints but no one really likes them and I'm the one that has to sort the sums up.' It comes just days after former Labour shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds urged the government to consider a wealth tax at the next Budget in order to plug holes in the public finances. Ms Dodds - who quit Sir Keir Starmer 's government in February over the PM's decision to cut the foreign aid budget to fund a boost in defence spending – warned that spending cuts will not 'deliver the kind of fiscal room that is necessary'. Last month, Sir Keir's support among the public reached new depths of minus 43 after a U-turn on cuts to welfare worth £5 billion, polling showed. The survey, first reported by The Sunday Times, also found that just a year after coming to power, seven in 10 voters think Sir Keir's government is at least as chaotic as the Tories' previous term. That includes one in three voters, who believe it is more so.
The Sun
26 minutes ago
- The Sun
Universal Credit and 11 benefits to be paid early this month – exact payment dates revealed
THOUSANDS on Universal Credit and 11 other benefits can expect early payments this month. Benefits are paid into your bank or building society account earlier if your usual payment date falls on a bank holiday or the weekend. 1 The next bank holiday is on Monday, August 25, meaning if you're expecting a payment on this date it will be made on August 22. So, if you check your statement on August 22 and notice a surprise amount of money, it will likely be your benefit being issued earlier. If you are paid earlier than usual this month, make sure the money stretches further as you will have to wait longer than normal to get your next payment. Universal Credit and 11 other benefits are paid on the first working day before a bank holiday. The full list is: Attendance Allowance Carer's Allowance Child Benefit Disability Living Allowance Employment and Support Allowance Income Support Jobseeker's Allowance Maternity Allowance Pension Credit Personal Independence Payment State Pension Universal Credit Anyone paid one of the above 12 benefits on August 22 instead of August 23, 24 or 25, should receive the same amount as usual. The only reason the payment amount might change is if you have had a change in your circumstances. For example, if you are on Universal Credit and your earnings have increased, your payment might go down. If you are expecting a payment on August 22 and don't receive it, contact the DWP. You can also submit a complaint to the Government department to get a problem sorted if your payment is wrong. How does work affect Universal Credit? After August, there are two more bank holidays before the end of the year which could impact when you receive your benefits. Here's when DWP or HMRC will make your payments: December 25 - payments will be made on December 24 instead December 26 - payments will be made on December 24 instead Upcoming changes to Universal Credit and PIP Last month, the Government U-turned on its welfare bill meaning Brits on Universal Credit and PIP will see fewer changes. Sir Keir Starmer had been hoping to push through reforms that would have seen some benefit claimants receiving less money. The Government had planned to make major changes to the health element of Universal Credit. A single person who is aged 25 or over can receive the basic level of the benefit, which comes in at £400.14 every month. But those getting an incapacity top-up due to a disability or long-term condition can get an extra £423.37. Are you missing out on benefits? YOU can use a benefits calculator to help check that you are not missing out on money you are entitled to Charity Turn2Us' benefits calculator works out what you could get. Entitledto's free calculator determines whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credit and Universal Credit. and charity StepChange both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto's data. You can use Policy in Practice's calculator to determine which benefits you could receive and how much cash you'll have left over each month after paying for housing costs. Your exact entitlement will only be clear when you make a claim, but calculators can indicate what you might be eligible for. The new plans mean that anyone up to the age of 22 will not be able to claim the health element. Ministers had also tried to freeze the payment for the next four years but a commitment was made for it to go up with inflation. That means people claiming the health element of Universal Credit and new claimants with the most severe conditions will see their incomes protected in real terms. Meanwhile, PIP claimants would have faced stricter tests to qualify for support. The Government had put forward that people would need to score four points in one task such as washing and dressing to qualify for support. Currently they can qualify with eight points across multiple activities. The Government initially partially u-turned, saying the changes would come into effect in November 2026, but anyone claiming the benefit before this date would not be impacted. However, following a rebellion from 47 MPs, the Government shelved the PIP plans entirely. You can find out more in our guide.
Telegraph
26 minutes ago
- Telegraph
‘Swansea council hit us with a £15k tax bill – and two weeks to pay'
Has your holiday let business been affected by anti-tourist policies? Email money@ In the four years since Guy Allen and Emma Enticott bought their holiday let in the heart of Mumbles on the Gower Peninsula, they estimate their business has contributed £90,000 to the local economy. Their thank you from Swansea Council, however, was a backdated council tax bill for £15,000 with a 15-day deadline to pay. The shock charge was the result of a tax change two years ago that many holiday let owners have argued was never properly communicated. The dispute centred around a decision by Welsh Labour to raise the number of days that holiday home owners would have to let their property to qualify for business rates. The minimum of 70 days was raised to 182. Businesses that failed to reach the new target would instead pay council tax, which would then be treated as a second home, incurring a premium of up to 300pc. The change became law from April 1 2023 but a loophole meant the 182-day target was backdated, so the requirement had to also be met in the year preceding the rule change. The Welsh government said it wrote to holiday let owners in October 2022 to explain this stipulation. Those who received the letter complained that this only gave them six months to hit the far higher target. Others, like Allen, 62 and Enticott, 51, said they never received a letter. 'They are stealing this money from us' And while the couple have worked hard to reach the 182-day target every year since 2023, employing a lettings agent, setting up a website and a social media page, they came up 11 nights short of the target in 2022-23. They didn't think this was an issue until they received a letter on July 17 from Swansea Council demanding £15,189 by August 1 for three years' worth of council tax, all of which had a 100pc premium applied. Allen said: 'What they have done is they have taken us off business rates completely. 'It means the council has now effectively charged us for six years of council tax and this is the first we've heard of it. 'We've spoken to the Valuation Office and it's going to take up to nine months for us to get back on to business rates because of the backlog. They will end up having to repay us for the years we have hit the target and therefore should be on business rates, but in the meantime [the council] is stealing money from us. 'They are going to have the benefit of our money and the interest on it for nine months before having to pay us back.' 'Paying the price for council incompetence' The Telegraph previously revealed how some Welsh authorities were taking holiday let owners to court to try to recoup backdated bills of up to £13,000. Alistair Handyside, of trade body the Professional Association of Self Caterers, described the policy as 'effectively [being] retrospective legislation'. He said there was no finite data on the number of holiday lets in Wales, so it was highly likely that letters were not sent to all homeowners. While Allen, head of sales at a watches firm, and Enticott, who manages several properties, were able to pay the bill, they said they had concerns for the countless other holiday let owners who would not be able to afford the bill. Enticott said: 'Guy and I are old enough and ugly enough, we have got each other's backs, and are a strong couple. But my major thoughts are for people who are facing ruin. They've got the bills to service, and they've got no other income stream. As an industry we are facing an absolute crisis. 'People cannot take the pressure anymore, and they've got absolutely no chance of hitting 182 days in some parts of the country.' Allen added: 'The heavy lifting of the tourism industry is carried by furnished holiday lets and we are being killed for the sake of covering up the Welsh government's incompetence. 'You only have to go through every one-horse town in Wales to see the petrol station has closed down, the pub has closed, the chapel has closed, and there are endless derelict houses. 'There are more than 100,000 empty homes in Wales, and that has nothing to do with second homes or holiday lettings, but for Mark Drakeford and his mates, it's an easy win. 'Blame somebody else for your lack of infrastructure. They have done nothing to build a sustainable economy for Wales in rural areas, and instead they want to go after holiday lets.' A Swansea Council spokesman said: 'This was not a decision taken by Swansea Council. We advised the family that the decision to take their holiday let off business rates was taken by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA). We had no control over the decision and we have no discretion to amend it. As a result of the VOA decision, the property became liable for council tax.' 'There was no delay from the council's point of view. The VOA told us recently it had retrospectively decided to withdraw the property from business rates, backdating its decision to April 1, 2023. This triggered the need for us to issue a council tax demand, and we did this as soon as we were informed by VOA of their decision. 'We have advised the family to contact the VOA, and should the position change, we will respond to that.' A Valuation Office Agency spokesman said: 'We cannot comment on individual cases. Following the Welsh Government's announcement of the new business rates criteria for self-catering properties, we wrote to all self-catering property owners in October 2022 to let them know about upcoming changes and how this would be assessed. 'We also published information online and engaged with industry bodies and local councils to raise awareness of the changes. 'We write to customers in Wales every two years to request lettings information. If a customer thinks their property has met the criteria to qualify for business rates, they can contact us and we will look into their case. 'If a customer informs us that they are experiencing financial hardship we will prioritise their case.'
