2 days ago
University students 'are facing an automatic YEARLY rise in tuition fees'
University students may have to fork out more tuition each year as ministers consider increasing fees to match inflation.
The move could lead to fees rising by more than £250 next year to nearly £9,800 and could even exceed £10,000 by 2027.
It comes amid fears that universities may go bankrupt without extra funding.
The Department of Education is considering rising fees at the start of each academic year in line with the Office for Budget Responsibility inflation forecast, according to The i Paper.
Last November, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson increased tuition fees for the first time since 2017, raising fees from £9,250 to £9,535 for students starting in autumn.
If the new legislation were to go through, fees could increase by 2.7 per cent, making annual tuition £9,792.
Ministers need to get both Houses of Parliament to approve secondary legislation to put up fees.
It has been reported that consideration has also been given to changing the law to make the process automatic.
As backlash from students is expected, insiders believe that the decision could be accompanied by extra maintenance support.
Vivienne Stern, the chief executive of Universities UK, said: 'Tuition fees are now worth only two-thirds of what they were in 2012 because for years universities weren't allowed to increase them to keep pace with inflation.
'The country needs universities firing on all cylinders if it is to get the economic growth everybody wants. That means they need to be funded sustainably with tuition fees linked to inflation year-on-year.'
Nick Hillman, the director of the Higher Education Policy Institute think-tank, said: 'Universities are hurting. None has yet gone bust – it doesn't mean they won't.'
It comes as cash-strapped universities are set to usher in students who missed their grades on A-level results day, the boss of Ucas has said.
Jo Saxton said a 'record number' of students were likely to get their first choice place, even including those that 'near-missed' their grades.
It is thought universities are desperate to fill places this year to boost their coffers amid a financial crisis in the sector.
On A-level results day on Thursday, the number of students accepted on to UK degree courses hit a record high, with 439,180 applicants gaining a place at a university or college.
