Universities must deliver ‘best outcomes’ for students after tuition fee rise
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Universities must demonstrate that they deliver the “best outcomes” for students in light of the increase in tuition fees, the Education Secretary has said. Bridget Phillipson said universities should “raise the bar further” on teaching standards and “drive out poor practice”, and they should expand access and improve outcomes for disadvantaged students.
The Government will set out its longer-term plan for higher education reform by summer, she added. It comes after the Government announced in November that undergraduate tuition fees in England, which have been frozen at £9,250 since 2017, will rise to £9,535 for the 2025-26 academic year.
It also announced that maintenance loans will increase in line with inflation in the 2025-26 academic year to help students with their living costs. 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.
In a written ministerial statement on Monday, the Education Secretary said: “We will expect the higher education sector to demonstrate that, in return for the increased investment that we are asking students to make, they deliver the very best outcomes both for those students and for the country.
“We have set out our five priorities for reform of the higher education system and will work in partnership with the sector over the coming months to shape the changes to government policy that will be needed to support this reform.”. Ms Phillipson said she expects universities to make a “stronger contribution” to economic growth, and to play a “greater civic role” in their communities.
