Universities UK's President responds to 2025 Autumn Budget

Today’s Budget rightly puts skills and innovation at the heart of the country’s future prosperity, and universities are crucial partners to both.  We welcome the reintroduction of maintenance grants for students from the most disadvantaged backgrounds.

"International students create educational opportunities for domestic students. They contribute to teaching, research and student support, as well as generating over £40bn for the UK economy.  We are pleased that government also recognises the importance of international students.

"The international student recruitment market is competitive and fees in the UK are high.  As a result of today’s announcement of a levy on international fees, universities now face the prospect of either reducing cross-subsidies that support teaching and research, and/or raising international fees still further, which has the potential to drive down international  numbers, ultimately limiting our ability to support UK students.

"We are encouraged that the government has responded in part to our representations regard the levy.  We now need to work with them to ensure that higher education funding is on a sustainable footing and that the levy does not result in unintended consequences for the sector.  

"We also need to work together to ensure that the UK remains a welcoming and attractive destination of international students.