York’s vice-chancellor responds to rising UK tuition fees and maintenance loans

Last Monday, the University of York’s vice-chancellor, Charlie Jeffery, responded to the UK government’s intention to increase UK tuition fees and maintenance loans.

In the email issued to students, Charlie Jeffery welcomed the UK government’s attitude to taking action in supporting the financial struggles of both students and universities. He has committed the University of York to being at the forefront of discussions with the government in the next 12 months.

However, he acknowledged the previous lack of student representation in higher education policy and the decreasing value of maintenance loans in the cost of living crisis.

Charlie Jeffery summarised the “one-off uplift” of UK tuition fees and loans, in line with inflation. The new tuition fee of £9,535, having increased from £9,250, will apply to home undergraduate students in all years of study at York. Later in the email, he assured students that they will not be paying more upfront, with a repayment threshold of £25,000.

The email reads that “Students have been largely ignored by government measures to help combat the big rise in the cost of living over the last few years”. Charlie Jeffery reminded students of his own previous opinion pieces declaring financial support for students, and the accessibility schemes in the University of York’s cost of living hub, which “provide support where it is most needed”.

Regarding maintenance loans, Charlie Jeffery said that “the maintenance loan increase is welcome and timely” for students, although he believes that there is need for “further support for students from more disadvantaged backgrounds”.

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Focusing on a future time frame, Charlie Jeffery ensured that students know these measures are “a first step, with further action to emerge next year following consultation”. Further policy updates are vital, as financial problems remain for students and higher education more generally, such as a lack of public funding.

Charlie Jeffery also suggested that “The real value of maintenance loans has been eroded badly by inflation”, as families can no longer afford to financially support their relatives at university as they may have done in the past.

Concluding the email, Charlie Jeffery emphasised his appreciation of the Secretary of State collaborating with universities to “Forge a future for UK higher education, and one with students at its centre”. The Vice-Chancellor has committed the University of York to be at the forefront of future discussions between the government and universities, to also “Make the case for a genuinely sustainable funding system”.

The full vice-chancellor update can be read here.