UKCISA statement on government’s proposed levy on international tuition fees

The government’s proposal to introduce a levy on international tuition fees in England to fund maintenance grants raises many concerns that need to be addressed urgently. 

Providing grants only for certain subjects, and funding those grants through international student fees, is not a fair or sustainable system for domestic or international students. 

International students invest hugely into their decision to study in the UK,  and they are entitled to expect that their fees will be invested to support their academic and pastoral experience. We urge the government to consider the ethics of using their tuition fees to subsidise activities that bring them no direct benefit.  

Whether through higher fees to make the UK unaffordable, or through restricting activity at institutions trying to cover costs, this levy risks damaging the experience of all students in higher education.  

Minister Smith noted at the Labour Party conference that the maintenance grant policy is still in the early stages of development, and it is essential that government engages with and listens to sector representatives to fully understand how this proposal would impact all students across our higher education institutions, and the knock-on effects across other parts of the education sector and UK towns and cities. 

Furthermore, government must clarify how such grants would be sustained if international student numbers decline further as a result of the levy, and explain how the levy would be collected and distributed without effectively taxing international students directly. 

UKCISA will be seeking feedback from members and international students on the likely impacts to inform our advocacy to government and our work with sector colleagues.