Higher Education Reform Ministerial Statement - British Academy responds

The British Academy has responded to yesterday’s Higher Education Reform Ministerial Statement. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson MP’s announcements included:

• The tuition fee cap is to be increased in line with inflation, with the annual maximum fee going up by £285 to £9,535 in the next academic year: an increase of around 3.1% - in line with the forecast set out in the recent Budget.
• Maintenance loans for university students in England will also rise by around 3.1% next year, which the government says will provide students with up to £414 extra per year.
• The government will also press ahead with the Lifelong Learning Entitlement.

Professor Julia Black, President of the British Academy, said: “The measures are a welcome first step towards helping UK Higher Education which is under severe strain. We are pleased to see that the Department for Education intends to work closely with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, something we have long argued for regarding universities. We continue to call for a robust, independent regulator responsible for the quality and resilience of the system as a whole.

"But these latest measures will not allay difficult decisions about provision which have particularly affected the humanities and social sciences. Further interventions are needed to ensure a thriving higher education and research sector that enables people to reach their potential, enrich our society and meet the challenges of the future."

ENDS

Notes to Editors

More information can be found in the DfE ‘Changes to tuition fees: 2025 to 2026 academic year’ policy paper.