On the 20th, the UK government announced that starting from 2026, university tuition fees in England will automatically rise annually in line with the inflation rate.
According to China News Service, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan confirmed in Parliament that tuition fees will begin to increase, and the relevant legislation will ensure that future annual increases are pegged to inflation.
This adjustment continues the upward trend in tuition fees in England. For this academic year, local university tuition fees are £9,535 (54,000 MYR). Based on the current inflation level, fees in 2026 could surpass £9,900 (56,100 MYR).
It is worth noting that collection of full tuition fees will be linked to teaching quality. The Office for Students in England will set quality thresholds, and only those universities delivering excellent teaching outcomes may charge the maximum tuition fee. Institutions that fail to meet the standard will not only be barred from implementing the new fee rates, but could also face restrictions on student admissions.
This policy has sparked much debate. Universities UK, representing 141 universities, believes this move provides a "much-needed reset" for the higher education system. The institution’s chief executive, Vivienne Stern, pointed out that linking tuition adjustments to inflation can help mitigate the financial sustainability erosion caused by a decade of frozen fees.
There is also opposition. Jo Grady, General Secretary of the University and College Union, criticized the government for "doubling down on a disastrous tuition-fee funding model", which she identified as the root of the sector’s crisis. According to the union’s data, more than 12,000 staff were laid off from UK universities last year.