UUK President, Professor Malcolm Press CBE, has
responded to the 2025 Autumn budget, delivered today. Commenting
on the budget, Professor Press said:
"Today's Budget rightly puts skills and innovation at the heart
of the country's future prosperity, and universities are crucial
partners to both. We welcome the reintroduction of
maintenance grants for students from the most disadvantaged
backgrounds.
"International students create educational opportunities for
domestic students. They contribute to teaching, research and
student support, as well as generating over £40bn for the UK
economy. We are pleased that government also
recognises
the importance of international students.
"The international student recruitment market is competitive and
fees in the UK are high. As a result of today's
announcement of a levy on international fees, universities now
face the prospect of either reducing cross-subsidies that
support teaching and research, and/or raising international fees
still further, which has the potential to drive down
international numbers, ultimately limiting our ability to
support UK students.
"We are encouraged that the government has responded in
part to our representations regard the levy. We
now need to work with them to ensure that higher education
funding is on a sustainable footing and that the levy does
not result in unintended consequences for the sector.
"We also need to work together to ensure that the UK remains a
welcoming and attractive destination of international students."
