Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson. (Getty Images)
University tuition fees in England will rise annually from 2026 in line with inflation, according to a government announcement made in Parliament. The Department for Education (DfE) confirmed the use of the Retail Price Index excluding mortgage interest payments (RPIx) as the measure for these increases. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson announced that legislation would be introduced to make the inflation-linked rise automatic each year following a two-year transitional phase. As reported by the BBC, she stated that “charging full fees will be conditional on high quality teaching.
Institutions falling below these standards may be restricted from charging full fees and could face caps on student numbers.
new metrics are under consultation and may replace the existing Teaching Excellence Framework While most students currently graduate with either a first-class degree or a 2:1. The government’s post-16 skills and higher education white paper includes additional reforms. From autumn 2026, a new Lifelong Learning Entitlement will allow access to tuition fee loans for individuals studying courses equivalent to the first and second year of a university degree.
The government has not yet finalised how this performance will be assessed, but it is expected to consider the additional value provided by institutions during a student’s academic journey, according to the BBC. Under the proposed framework, universities must demonstrate strong academic outcomes for students in order to qualify for the maximum tuition fee. The white paper also encourages collaboration between universities and further education colleges to facilitate student transfers and flexible learning routes.