Changes to Fees and Charges
1. Fees, and university and college continuation charges:
Fees, and university and college continuation charges for students who start on a programme of study in 2025/26 and who continue on the same programme for more than one year will usually increase annually. For Home undergraduate students, course fees nationally are subject to a governmental fee cap, which is subject to annual review and at present is expected to rise by no more than RPI each year. For full-time Home undergraduate students current university policy is to charge fees at the level of the cap set by the government.
In deciding the annual level of increase for all other categories of student, the University and colleges will take into account a range of factors, including rises in the costs of delivering the programme, and changes in government funding. The increase each year will not exceed whichever is higher from 6% or the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The fees that you will need to pay in any one academic year will usually be published before the first application deadline for the programme concerned. Normally this will be by September of the previous year: for instance, most fees for 2025/26 will have been published by September 2024.
Fees for new entrants are subject to annual review, and may be higher than those for continuing students. Fees for new entrants will be published on the same timescale as for continuing students, as stated above.
Additional commentary:
The level of uplift for fees and university and college continuation charges is considered on an annual basis by a group that consists of nominees of the University and colleges and student representatives, in consultation with academic divisions and the Department for Continuing Education. Over the past 3 years, the average level of increase has been 6.9% p.a. Factors taken into account by the group have included inflationary measures such as the Consumer Price Index (CPI), projected increases in university costs, changes in the level of grant from the Office for Students, costs of provision of teaching, supervision and course-related facilities, admissions statistics, and access considerations including the availability of student support.
2. In respect of additional course costs:
The level of additional course costs for students who start on a programme of study in 2025/26 and who continue on the same programme for more than one year will usually increase annually. Increases are expected to be in line with inflation, unless there are identifiable above-inflation rises in costs directly associated with the activity. These may, for example, include costs charged by third parties.
3. In respect of fees relating to examinations and related matters (e.g. entry for examinations, resubmission of theses, late entry for examinations, copies of transcripts etc.):
The level of these fees and charges will usually increase annually. Increases are not normally expected to exceed 6%, or CPI if higher, but may be greater to reflect the examining and administrative costs associated with the activity. The fees applying in any one academic year will normally be published by September of the previous year: for instance, fees for 2025/26 will have been published by September 2024.
