University fees to increase from September 2025

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Just announced.

And looks like a complete overhaul coming.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/11/04/raise-university-tuition-fees-2025-starmer/

Yes. The wealthier universities may be able to weather it, but it might be enough to tip others into bankruptcy. I really fear for regional universities as they bring prosperity into less populated areas.

@Araminta1003 You ve still not said how you would raise the money to do all that you want, the increase in NI is to cover the things like Blood scandal compensation, the NI employee cuts, there isn't anything left over to fund Uni's.

The top Uni's are also in financial trouble, they've not the billions required to improver "lesser" Uni's... though having said that, my DD went to a former Poly, got a great degree and is set for life.

Imho the Uni sector is going to have to downsize & thats a shame, because we have many World class Universities.

Just as with NHS dentistry or crumbling public buildings or potholed roads... unless taxes are increased substantially, none of these things are going to get fixed... and lower fee's or Uni funding is not going to be a priority with sooooo many other more public concerns to deal with.

It’s not just about increasing the money coming in…ie taxes
We need a two pronged attack and also reduce the money going out.

Only 12% of the working age population are a net benefit to the country. We need to substantially increase that figure.

“Only 12% of the working age population are a net benefit to the country. We need to substantially increase that figure.”
Firstly, how much you actually earn does not translate to how much you benefit society, far from it. Secondly, they have increased minimum wage. Personally I believe there should be tax incentives to work full time or at least 80 per cent. The current system does the opposite. I literally work less because if I go over a certain threshold they take a huge amount of my money in taxes (so I would rather then also consume less). How is that efficient?

I think they need to financially incentivise anyone who can to pay for their DCs uni fees so the Government does not have to borrow more? There is this huge culture of just get the loan and it is good for DCs. The loan costs everyone including unis because they do not end up with the ability to raise fees.

So at least have a financial uni product to save into that is tax efficient or some tax deductible stuff. They have to come up with something.

The loans issued now will be paid back many many years later. Not enough kids are paying them back and like I said, going local to uni is not a bad thing.

We also have the added complication now that DCs have realised that STEM degrees get them jobs and they simply cost more to run.

Yes I agree with your first comment. A full time carer doesn’t earn much but saves the state thousands. We need to reframe the value people add over just income. It’s shortsighted.

It will only affect those that will pay it off. I don’t even pay of the interest that is added each year.

The 12% is based on ‘net’ benefit.
Purely a financial figure based on National insurance and tax payments.
That 12% is not calculated on your spending habits ie consumerism.

It is purely money in / money paid back.

In terms of your comment ‘not enough kids are paying the Uni fees back’ in full including interest. This is an issue but it’s also worth noting that older people already retired who have not done a first degree also get student loans if they decide to do one after retirement. Unless they are on a substantial private pension they never pay a penny back ( free council tax too! ). Student Loans don’t require anyone to prove or show whether they intend or even can pay it back. The same goes for older workers 50s / 60s or so who don’t have that long to pay it back. It’s not just kids that aren’t paying the full amount back, they at least will spend years paying it along with the high interest on it.

So perhaps if you are past …..a certain age ? You shouldn’t get a loan for something you have no chance of paying back.

So perhaps if you are past…..a certain age ? The Government should look to adding a student loan to a persons ‘payback’ on death just as a mortgage is.

Mmm controversial…..I know

But Uni's are struggling right now, efficiency savings of course but the sector needs funding properly and no one seems to be able to conjure up that money.

We have huge skills shortages in this country, not just in low paid work either but in Engineering, skilled construction trades, healthcare...

We need to be encouraging FE/HE not putting people off with high headline tuition fees & it does deter the least well off, thats been shown to be the case.

I think your idea of payback on death, would just lead to less and less people going to Uni etc.

It needs to be reiterated that many people who get a degree, earn more, pay more tax so in effect do pay back their loans

The payback on death really was related to those who take up a degree later in life ie at retirement or very near to retirement age including those who retire early.
ie Those who have no possibility of paying any back due to age.

Can’t find the stats for retirees but there are some for the over 50s

Well, its a 40 year repayment period, so no one, unless on a v high salary, over 30 has any chance of paying it all back.

I think everyone should have the chance to go onto FE/HE, education should be a right and of course a responsibility too.

I had free FE, it enabled me to work abroad and pay higher rate tax, it then meant i could do the best for my DD, no working benefits and she is back in the NHS, earning almost 39k and paying the tax that goes with it.

She was the first in our family to get a degree.

I would never have gone to college if i'd had to have paid it back, the enormity of borrowing that amount would have stopped me, that would have meant i stayed in low paid work, on benefits and doubtless i'd have encouraged my DD not to go too.

Confused by the point tbh. Re my post?