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For the first time in almost ten years, Nigerian students aiming to pursue higher education in the United Kingdom could face higher tuition costs, as the UK government moves to lift its longstanding cap on fees, effective from September 2025. This policy shift is expected to impact thousands of international students seeking British degrees.
In a report published Monday by The Telegraph, it was confirmed that UK tuition fees will rise starting in September 2025, a move expected to affect A-level students, including Nigerians, applying to universities. This fee adjustment, intended to reflect Retail Price Index inflation, marks a shift in the UK’s approach to higher education funding.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson is expected to announce the tuition adjustment soon, marking the end of the £9,250 cap, which has limited fees since 2017. This policy change, under Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s administration, seeks to modernize the financial framework for UK higher education in response to inflationary pressures.
If the proposed 2.7 percent increase takes effect, tuition fees for domestic students would rise to approximately £9,500. For international students, who currently pay rates three to four times higher, this adjustment could lead to even steeper tuition hikes, potentially placing a greater financial burden on those studying from abroad.
This move arrives at a difficult moment for UK universities, many of which are already contending with serious budgetary gaps. These financial strains have heightened the pressure on institutions to secure sustainable funding amid rising operational costs.
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Nearly 40 per cent of English institutions are anticipating deficits in the current academic year, exacerbated by rising operational costs and a decrease in international enrollments.
Home Office data revealed a “16 per cent drop in visa applications between July and September, compared to the same period in 2023,” following the UK government’s recent visa restrictions that prevent international students from bringing dependents.
The Russell Group, representing the UK’s top universities, has voiced concerns, stating that the current fee cap results in a financial loss of roughly £4,000 per domestic student.
Financial Times on Monday also reported that the Director of the Higher Education Policy Institute, Nick Hillman, said universities “need a fee rise that is significantly above inflation even to stand still”, adding the sector faces £400m of extra costs as a result of increases in employers’ national insurance contributions.
“If the announcement is a rise of just two to three per cent, the worries about financial instability will continue,” he said.
“We also need to know what extra support there will be for students in maintenance support, as they are hurting just as much as institutions.”
