Fees for England universities frozen at £9,250 for two years
Author/Source: Natasha Preskey & Branwen Jeffreys - BBC News | 12/01/2023
University tuition fees in England are to stay frozen at £9,250 for the next two years, says the government.
But students face a further squeeze on living costs with maintenance loans rising by 2.8% from this autumn.
The Save the Student money advice website said it was a devastating blow after loans rose just 2.3% this year.
In addition, the government has said it will give a further £15m to hardship funds at universities.
The National Union of Students (NUS) welcomed financial help for students but said hardship funds were "a quick fix to a long-term problem".
The NUS, which represents students across the UK, urged the government to go further by offering larger loans and grants for student living costs, and tackling spiralling student rent.
The government confirmed on Wednesday that maintenance loans and grants for undergraduate and postgraduate students would go up 2.8% for the 2023/24 academic year.
This rise falls below the current inflation rate of 10.7%. The NUS called the increase woefully inadequate and said it would mean students were £1,500 worse off than if support had been increased in line with inflation.
The University and College Union, which represents more than 120,000 education staff in the UK, said the increase would barely touch the sides in the face of high inflation, rising energy bills, transport costs, rents, and falling wages.
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