Story perspectives

Burnham Announces English Tuition Fees Hit Record £9,790

9/5/2026

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Burnham Raises Tuition

On 4 September 2026, Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced English university tuition fees rose to £9,790 per year, the highest on record.
Burnham had pledged in 2015 to eliminate tuition fees and replace them with a graduate tax, a promise he later reversed.
Library data show maximum loans could leave graduates owing about £70,000, £81,000 in London.
Scottish graduates averaged £17,990 debt in 2025 because Scotland exempts tuition fees.

Right

Burnham Raises Tuition

On 4 September 2026, Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced that English university tuition fees will rise to £9,790 per year, the highest level recorded.
Burnham framed the fee hike as offset by a £2 bus-fare cap and reduced business rates for pubs, presenting it as a broader cost-of-living package.
SNP spokesperson Kirsty Blackman said Burnham broke pledge to scrap fees, warning families of debt.
Debt could reach £81,000 in London, £70,000 elsewhere.

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Burnham Raises Tuition

On 4 September 2026, Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced English university tuition fees rose to £9,790 per year, the highest on record.
Burnham had pledged in 2015 to eliminate tuition fees and replace them with a graduate tax, a promise he later reversed.
Library data show maximum loans could leave graduates owing about £70,000, £81,000 in London.
Scottish graduates averaged £17,990 debt in 2025 because Scotland exempts tuition fees.

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