Nigerian students planning to study in the United Kingdom may see a rise in tuition fees for the first time in nearly a decade, following a decision by the UK government to lift the fee cap starting in September 2025.
The fee adjustment, confirmed in a report by The Telegraph on Monday, “effect from September 2025, will impact current A-level students applying for university entry,” including those from Nigeria, as the UK moves to align tuition with the Retail Price Index inflation rate.
The adjustment, expected to be announced by the Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson under Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s administration, will end the £9,250 cap being in place since 2017.
A potential increase of 2.7 per cent would see tuition fees rise to about £9,500 for domestic students, while fees for international students, who generally pay three to four times higher, could climb even further.
The move came at a challenging time for UK universities, many of which are grappling with severe financial shortfalls.
Nearly 40 per cent of English institutions are anticipating deficits in the current academic year, exacerbated by rising operational costs and a decrease in international enrollments.
Home Office data revealed a “16 per cent drop in visa applications between July and September, compared to the same period in 2023,” following the UK government’s recent visa restrictions that prevent international students from bringing dependents.
The Russell Group, representing the UK’s top universities, has voiced concerns, stating that the current fee cap results in a financial loss of roughly £4,000 per domestic student.
Financial Times on Monday also reported that the Director of the Higher Education Policy Institute, Nick Hillman, said universities “need a fee rise that is significantly above inflation even to stand still”, adding the sector faces £400m of extra costs as a result of increases in employers’ national insurance contributions.
“If the announcement is a rise of just two to three per cent, the worries about financial instability will continue,” he said.
“We also need to know what extra support there will be for students in maintenance support, as they are hurting just as much as institutions.”
