University Tuition Fees in England Will Rise with Inflation from 2026

University tuition fees in England will increase every year in line with inflation from 2026 onwards, the government has confirmed.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson announced that tuition and maintenance loans will both rise annually with inflation, under new legislation that will make the change automatic. Speaking in Parliament, Phillipson said universities would only be allowed to charge full fees if they deliver “high-quality teaching” and “strong outcomes” for students.

Institutions that fail to meet the quality standards set by the Office for Students could lose the right to charge the maximum amount and may even face restrictions on student recruitment.

Currently, undergraduate fees in England stand at £9,535 for the 2024–25 academic year — up from £9,250, marking the first increase since 2017. If inflation continues at the current rate (based on the Retail Price Index excluding mortgage interest, RPIx), annual tuition fees could rise by around £400, surpassing £9,900 by 2026.

Universities UK, which represents 141 institutions, called the move “a much-needed reset for our university system.” Chief Executive Vivienne Stern said it would help reverse the “long-term erosion of financial sustainability” after years of frozen fees.

However, critics argue the policy doubles down on a flawed funding model. Jo Grady, general secretary of the University and College Union, said the government was “entrenching the very system that created the crisis the sector is currently facing.” The union recently reported that more than 12,000 university jobs had been cut in the past year.

Prof Ian Dunn, provost at Coventry University, described the increases as “a good thing” but cautioned that they would not resolve the wider financial pressures facing the sector. “It adds a little income and alleviates some pressure,” he said, “but it won’t in itself solve the problem.”

The government has also reiterated plans to reintroduce maintenance grants for some students by the end of this Parliament, with further details expected in the autumn Budget on 26 November.

Moreover, from autumn 2026, the new Lifelong Learning Entitlement will expand access to tuition fee loans for individuals studying shorter or modular courses equivalent to the first or second year of university, with greater collaboration expected between universities and further education colleges.

The policy applies only to England, as higher education is devolved across the UK. Tuition fees in Wales currently match England’s £9,535 rate, while Northern Ireland caps them at £4,750, and Scottish students continue to study tuition-free in Scotland.