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Tuition fees in England and Wales rise to £9,535 How much are tuition fees in the UK and is university worth it?
(14 days later)
Tuition fees have risen to £9,535 per year for undergraduate degrees in England and Wales. Many students receiving their results for A-levels, T-levels and Btecs on Thursday will be considering university as a next step.
Maintenance loans have also gone up, meaning that students can borrow more to help with their living costs. But with tuition fees in England and Wales having risen to £9,535 a year, and living costs for undergraduates continuing to increase across the UK, how much does university really cost?
It is the first time tuition fees in England have increased since 2017, and comes after universities said they needed more financial support. A-level results: follow live
The government says it will set out longer-term funding plans at a later date.
How much have tuition fees gone up by in England and Wales?How much have tuition fees gone up by in England and Wales?
The annual cost of an undergraduate degree in England and Wales has gone up by £285, a 3% increase. The annual cost of an undergraduate degree in England and Wales has gone up by £285, a 3% increase on the previous yearly fee of £9,250.
Undergraduate students can also borrow more to help meet their day-to-day living costs.Undergraduate students can also 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 has increased to £10,544 a year, up from £10,227.For example, the maximum maintenance loan for students from England who live away from their parents outside London has increased to £10,544 a year, up from £10,227.
The Department for Education (DfE) in England first announced the rises in November 2024, saying they were in line with inflation.The Department for Education (DfE) in England first announced the rises in November 2024, saying they were in line with inflation.
Why have tuition fees gone up? Why have tuition fees gone up in England and Wales?
Tuition fees had been frozen since 2017, and universities have expressed growing concerns about funding pressures. Tuition fees had been frozen since 2017, and universities had expressed growing concerns about funding pressures, with more than four in 10 universities believed to be in a financial deficit.
In May, the regulator in England, the Office for Students, warned that more than four in 10 universities expected to be in a financial deficit by summer 2025.
The recent period of high inflation meant tuition fees were worth less in real terms, and there have been fewer international students to help make up the financial shortfall.The recent period of high inflation meant tuition fees were worth less in real terms, and there have been fewer international students to help make up the financial shortfall.
Students have been told they could see cuts to staffing and courses as a result.Students have been told they could see cuts to staffing and courses as a result.
How much are university fees in Northern Ireland and Scotland?How much are university fees in Northern Ireland and Scotland?
UK nations set their own fees.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 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.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?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. Student rents have risen sharply in recent years, alongside other living costs.
The Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi) says average weekly costs for a first-year student in 2023-24 were £260 without rent, or £418 when rent is included.
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.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 housing costs were particularly high in some cities like Nottingham and Bristol, where the average bill 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.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. Hepi has said students need £61,000 over the course of a three-year degree in order to have a "minimum socially acceptable standard of living" - and that's excluding the £9,353-per-year tuition fees. In London, that figure is £77,000.
Its 2025 student survey found the percentage of full-time undergraduates in paid employment during term time was 68% - up from 45% in 2022. The think tank's 2025 student survey found the percentage of full-time undergraduates in paid employment during term time was 68% - up from 45% in 2022.
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 month in 2024, on top of their rent.
How do student loans work?How do student loans work?
Most UK students are eligible for a loan to cover the cost of their tuition.Most UK students are eligible for a loan to cover the cost of their tuition.
Maintenance loans are also available to help with living costs. These are means-tested, so the amount you get depends on your family's income. Maintenance loans are also available to help with living costs. These are means-tested, so the amount you get depends on your family's income, and may not cover your actual bills.
You are charged interest on your total loan from the day you take it out. Eligibility and repayment rules differ across the UK.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.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.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.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?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.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.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.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.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.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?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).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. However, when taking account of inflation, HESA says graduate wages have declined in real terms, though the level of the decline varies depending on which job you're in.
According to HESA's survey of 2020-21 graduates, the average salary reported 15 months after gaining a degree was £29,699. When measured against prices in 2015, graduates surveyed in 2022 were earning £448 per year less on average than their counterparts who graduated three years earlier.
Earnings also depend on the subject studied and university attended.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. Research by the IFS think tank in England suggests that, on average, women who study creative arts and languages degrees earn the same amount in their lifetime as if they had not gone to university.
In contrast, women who studied law, economics or medicine earned over £250,000 more during their career than if they had not got a degree. In contrast, women who study law, economics or medicine earn over £250,000 more during their career than if they did not have 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. Men who studied creative arts on average earn less across their lifetimes than if they had not attended university. Male medicine or economics graduates earn £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.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. But it found that 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".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".
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