On Monday evening, the Government announced a rise in tuition fees and maintenance loans for home students. For students starting courses in the 2025/26 academic year, tuition fees will increase with inflation from £9,250 to £9,535. All means-tested maintenance loans will also increase with inflation so students receiving the maximum loan amount will get an additional £317 per year. LBU will not be raising the fee for current students for the normal duration of their course. 

The University has sent an email to all current home students studying at Leeds Beckett informing them of their commitment to keep tuition fees the same for all continuing students. This means that returning students’ tuitions fees will remain at £9,250 for the remainder of their degree and they will also be able to access the increased maintenance loan from next academic year. A good news considering that many institutions across the country are raising their fees for everyone from next year.  

We understand the need to allow universities to increase their tuition fees by this small amount to help them manage inflationary pressures and keeping the 2017 tuition fee cap was no longer sustainable. However, we believe that wider and more radical reform in Higher Education funding is essential.   

The announcement to increase the maintenance loan cap is welcome, however we feel like it doesn’t go far enough to support students with the cost-of-living crisis and the financial struggles they are facing. The current system of means-testing leads to students from poorer backgrounds ending up with disproportionately more debt.   

When students finish university, they are already facing a large bill for their education, and we remain opposed to any further increases in tuition fees beyond inflation. There must be a proper discussion on wider reforms and the Government must consider reinstituting maintenance grants instead of simply increasing the debt burden on graduates. Higher education must be subsidized for students and we’re looking forward to continuing campaigning for the student voice both on a local and national level.  

If you’d like to get involved in our campaigns and community organising, you can find out more here or get in touch via email at communityorganising@leedsbeckettsu.co.uk.

LBSU Officer Team