UK universities’ tuition fees are to go up for the first time in eight years, taking annual payments up to a record £9,535 (PKR 3,419,566) per student.
It will apply to new students starting university next autumn, and those continuing their studies in their second and third years.
Fees for domestic undergraduate students have been capped at £9,250 per year in England since 2017.
To help soften the blow, the British government also announced a parallel increase to student maintenance loans, providing up to £414 extra per year to support students from the lowest-income families.
The announcement has drawn criticism from students and academic representatives. Many argue that increasing tuition fees adds more debt burden on students without addressing core issues such as funding disparities and overpaid university executives.
The development has come forward after university warned of significant financial concerns as a result of frozen tuition fees paid by domestic students and a drop in international students.
Earlier this year, it was announced that international students can no longer bring their family members in UK which saw a drop in visas.
Why do most Pakistani students prefer studying in UK universities?
Due to UK’s rich educational history and culture that fosters a global perspective, the Kingdom has become one of the most sought-after destinations for Pakistani students looking to acquire higher education.
Most of the UK universities ranked among the top 10 universities around the world.
As of June 2022, the number of student visas issued for Pakistani students has surged to 28,188, marking a significant 95 per cent increase from 2021. The numbers are still getting higher.
For Pakistani students who cannot afford tuition fees, numerous scholarships worth millions of pounds are available, including the Commonwealth Scholarships, Chevening Scholarships, and others.
