Higher Education reforms: what you need to know and our response

Yesterday, the government announced that the cap on tuition fees will be rising to £9,535 per year from 2025 and maintenance loan entitlements are also set to rise. Beyond this, the Education Secretary confirmed that further proposals for reform will be published in the coming months. 

What we’re calling for

This April, Student Minds set out our vision for a future where every student can thrive in our Student Mental Health Manifesto. In it, we highlighted the need for maintenance loans to increase, accounting for years of real-term cuts. We also called for thresholds for maintenance loan entitlements to increase, for financial support for part-time students, and for the reintroduction of maintenance grants to be explored. ​

More needs to be done on maintenance funding

While yesterday’s increase to maintenance loan entitlements is a helpful start, it is not enough to make up for the significant shortfall that students and their loved ones have been forced to account for in recent years - often by taking on unsustainable working hours, further debts, or risky income-generating activities. 
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Given recent findings that for the average student, maintenance loans fall short by £504 a month, this 3% increase - or a maximum of £414 per year - still leaves a significant hole in students’ budgets. We are also disappointed to see no mention of additional support for the most disadvantaged students, and continue to call for the government to consider the reintroduction of maintenance grants as a priority.

Tuition fees and sector finances

The picture concerning tuition fees is more complex. We understand that universities require urgent financial relief given tuition fees were frozen in 2017 despite inflation, and that an increase  offers a much-needed lifeline. However, we question whether students and graduates should be the ones to foot this bill - even if only a minority of students will ever pay back this additional cost. ​

A Student Mental Health Manifesto win

We’re pleased to hear of the government’s intention to undertake more fundamental reviews of the higher education system, with a focus on ensuring it remains fair and accessible to all. This is in line with our Student Mental Health Manifesto recommendation that the government commits to a review of UK higher education funding, finding a new sustainable system which does not place the additional burden on students or staff.
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We hope to see a funding model implemented which secures the long-term sustainability of our world-leading universities, whilst also ensuring that every student who wants to can access higher education with the financial support they need. We also call for a more progressive repayment model, which takes a proportionate, fair and manageable approach for all graduates.

Student Minds will keep championing our university communities

As higher education reform remains in the political spotlight, Student Minds will continue to advocate for you. Our mission is for a future where no student is held back by their mental health. For this to become a reality, both students and universities must have access to the financial support and investment they need. ​