Government grants will cover inflation-linked university tuition fee rises due to come into force in England from next September, the Education Minister has confirmed.
Deputy Rob Ward said he “intends to increase the maximum tuition fee grant accordingly” for students currently studying at university in England or planning to from September 2026.
It comes after the UK’s Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson announced in the House of Commons last Tuesday that tuition fee caps in England will rise in line with forecast inflation rates from 2026 for two academic years.
The increase will impact undergraduate courses at all higher education providers.
The exact amount students will be charged is unclear however, if it was calculated at the current rate of inflation, university fees would rise by approximately £400 to over £9,900 per year.
Ms Phillipson also told MPs that UK university maintenance loans will rise in line with inflation, and said she intends to bring forward legislation to automate the inflation-linked figures in future.
This is the second tuition fee rise in England in as many months, with university fees rising for the first time in eight years in September from £9,250 to £9,535.
In a statement, Deputy Ward said he is “committed to supporting individuals who aspire to enter higher education and to removing barriers such as the cost of study”.
“Following the recent announcement by the UK Government of plans to increase tuition fee caps in line with inflation for academic years 2026/27 and 2027/28, I intend to increase the maximum tuition fee grant accordingly,” he confirmed.
Deputy Ward added that “further details” for local students and parents will be shared once confirmation of the new fees have been announced.