Tuition fees

Universities charge tuition fees to cover the costs of running their undergraduate courses. They can also account for registration, supervision, exams and graduation expenses.

Tuition fees are set at different levels depending on where you live, so universities will first need to carry out an assessment to determine your status.

In England, universities can charge up to £9,535 per year for 2025/26 entry – the cap has increased by 3.1% (in line with inflation), after remaining at £9,250 for the previous seven academic years.

The Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) means that only institutions that perform well in a new teaching quality assessment can increase their fees. Read more about this at comparing UK universities.

Those institutions charging the maximum rate must also have an access and participation plan (APP) from the Office for Students (OfS). This aims to improve the equality of opportunity for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Read more about the tuition fee changes announced in November 2024 at MoneySavingExpert – Martin Lewis explains what it means for you.

If you study in Wales, you’ll also be charged up to £9,535 per year in 2025/26. This applies to all students from Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Scottish universities don’t charge tuition fees to students from Scotland, as you can apply to have the home fees of £1,820 (2025/26) paid for you in full by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS). But students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland must pay tuition fees.

In 2024/25, universities in Northern Ireland will charge a maximum of £4,750 per year to Northern Irish students, and up to £9,250 to English, Scottish and Welsh students.

In all parts of the UK, fees for EU and other international students are set on a variable scale and are usually higher. University websites display the most up-to-date fee information.

As a rough guide, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) has revealed that international students studying an undergraduate course in the UK can expect to pay about £22,000 per year. However, it can vary from £11,400 to £38,000.

You’ll need to fund the cost of study either through student finance, sponsorship or self-financing.

Student loans

If you’re planning on studying for one of the following undergraduate qualifications, support is available to help with the costs of tuition:

• undergraduate degree (BA, BSc, etc.)
• foundation degree
• Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE)
• Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE)
• Higher National Certificate (HNC)
• Higher National Diploma (HND)
• Initial Teacher Training (ITT) course.

For Masters courses, see funding postgraduate study.

While eligibility is also determined by factors such as your age, nationality or residential status, those looking to study their first degree on a full-time basis should be able to apply for a repayable student loan provided by the government.

Part-time students studying at least 25% of the equivalent full-time course across an academic year may also be entitled to support.

Student loans are split into two distinct parts: tuition fee loans and maintenance loans.

Tuition fee loans of up to £9,535 a year cover your course fees. You don’t receive this money – it’s paid directly to the university running your course. Part time students may be able to get a tuition fee loan of up to £7,145.

For those studying for an accelerated degree (a two-year course instead of the traditional three), you could get up to £11,440.

It’s important to be aware that while student loans and bank loans are both methods of borrowing money, student loans are specifically designed to cover tuition fees and offer more flexible repayment options than bank loans.

Student loans typically have lower interest rates and repayment (or deferment) is based on your income. This means you may pay back a percentage of your income above a certain level, or you can postpone payments for a specific time – see your repayment options below.

You also need to be aware that your student loan will not directly affect your credit score, as student loans aren’t recorded on your credit report. This means they don’t help or hinder your credit rating.

Despite this, your student loan can indirectly influence your ability to borrow money in the future. When applying for a mortgage or other large loans, lenders may consider your overall financial situation, including your student loan repayments. This may affect how much you can borrow.