Fee increase won’t cover ‘radical’ ambition of skills plans

‘More interventionist, more activist’ stance from government will result in deep changes to the sector, but vice-chancellors say key details missing

Published on
October 22, 2025
Last updated
October 22, 2025
Patrick Jack
A woman walks past a banner that advertises courses for the LSE, on 9 April 2025, in London, England. The advert states "use your ideas to shape the world". To illustrate that Skills White Paper is a 'quid pro quo' for universities.
Source: Richard Baker/In Pictures via Getty Images
Read more about
Read more about: 
Higher education policy
UK higher education policy
University funding and finances

Register to continue

Why register?

  • Registration is free and only takes a moment
  • Once registered, you can read 3 articles a month
  • Sign up for our newsletter
Please
or
to read this article.

Related articles

Reader's comments (1)

#1 Submitted by ... on October 22, 2025 - 8:05pm
Have we had any reaction to this from the student bodies? I guess if they are paying more, they will want more in return? They have always been slow to understand the concept of real terms cuts and flat cash settlements and, as it costs them more, they will see this as a hiking of charges.

You might also like

Should the UK expel the boarding school model of HE?

The provision of accommodation, recreation and even welfare services remains a central part of the UK university model even in an era of massification. But as cost pressures eat into both students' and universities' budgets, there is a growing sense that something has to give. Patrick Jack reports

By Patrick Jack
20 November

Sponsored

Featured jobs

See all jobs