Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that rising university tuition fees do not exclude students from the poorest households.

The government is committed to supporting the aspiration of every person who meets the requirements and wants to go to university. The student finance system removes upfront financial barriers so that everyone with the ability and desire to enter higher education (HE) can do so.

Tuition fees will increase in line with inflation for the 2025/26 academic year for new and continuing full-time, part-time and accelerated degree domestic undergraduate students. HE providers are autonomous and responsible for setting their own fees under this level. In deciding to keep charging full fees, providers will want to ensure that they can continue to deliver courses which are fit for purpose and help students progress their qualifications.

Eligible students will be able to apply for upfront loans to meet the full costs of their tuition. Student loan borrowers will not see their monthly repayments increase as a result of this change, because monthly repayments depend on earnings, not on interest rates or the amount borrowed. Student loan borrowers are protected. Borrowers only make repayments when earning over the relevant student loan repayment threshold. At the end of the loan term, any outstanding loan debt, including interest accrued, will be written off, with no detriment to the borrower.

Borrowers who would be forecast not to repay their loans in full under the 2024/25 academic year fee and maintenance levels will see no increase to their lifetime student loan repayments.