Majority of students oppose Government’s decision to raise tuition fees – poll
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More than two in three students oppose the Labour Government’s decision to increase university tuition fees in England, a poll has suggested. The majority (56%) of students do not agree that raising fees is “necessary” to provide more money to institutions facing financial challenges, according to the poll carried out for the Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi) think tank.
It comes after the Government announced in November that undergraduate tuition fees in England, which have been frozen at £9,250 since 2017, would rise to £9,535 for the 2025-26 academic year. Universities have warned of financial concerns as a result of frozen tuition fees paid by domestic students and a fall in the number of overseas students.
The poll of 1,105 students domiciled in England, conducted by Savanta, found that 68% of students said they oppose the tuition fee increase. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson also announced that maintenance loans will increase in line with inflation in the 2025-26 academic year to help students with their living costs.
The survey, carried out in November and December after the announcement on fees and maintenance loans, found that support for the changes rose when the increase in maintenance support was considered. Once the maintenance rise is included, a similar proportion of students said they thought the announcement is “entirely” or “mostly” a good thing (32%) as those who said it is “entirely” or “mostly” a bad thing (31%), the poll found.
