Britain’s universities feel the heat of its migration culture war

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The decline “has … been more and more troublesome,” mentioned Arrowsmith, stressing “one of many most important sources of funding that was serving to to mitigate the discount in useful resource is … not fairly as secure.”

<img decoding="async" width="1024" height="685" src="https://www.politico.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/02/13118477-1024x685.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-7091214" srcset="https://www.politico.eu/cdn-cgi/image/width=1024,quality=80,onerror=redirect,format=auto/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/02/13118477.jpg 1024w, https://www.politico.eu/cdn-cgi/image/width=300,quality=80,onerror=redirect,format=auto/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/02/13118477.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"/> Schooling Secretary Bridget Phillipson insisted the federal government will “all the time welcome worldwide college students the place they meet the necessities to check.” | Andy Rain/EPA

Whereas worldwide charges rose with none cap, home tuition charges had been frozen from 2017 till this fall at £9,250. Regardless of rising to £9,535, the hike in employers’ nationwide insurance coverage contributions hampered further financial savings — forcing universities to tighten their purse strings.

A Universities UK survey of 60 establishments in Might discovered 49 p.c closed programs to cut back prices, up from 24 p.c in spring 2024. In the identical month, the Workplace for College students, which regulates larger schooling, forecast a 3rd consecutive yr of monetary decline in 2024/25.

“Inflation has been notably excessive,” argued Arrowsmith, “That basically exacerbated the state of affairs,” notably when there have been “elevated expectations” on educational analysis.

It’s little shock the Home of Commons’ Schooling Committee is investigating potential insolvency inside larger schooling establishments.

The Division for Schooling reiterated that the independence of universities meant they need to guarantee sustainable enterprise fashions. However Willetts and Hodge disagreed on whether or not rising home charges would enhance the state of affairs.