A response from your Executive Officers regarding the increase in tuition fees

Tahmid, Jovani, Al-Habib, Rahma, Nabihah, Hassam | 2024-25 Executive Officers

Read an update from your Executive Officer regarding the increase in tuition fees, what they're lobbying for and how you can share your views

What’s happening?

Earlier this week, the University confirmed that Queen Mary will raise tuition fees for UK home undergraduate students to the new maximum fee level of £9,535 per year. This means fees for many students will rise, including those of you who are already enrolled! As your Students’ Union, we’re clear that we do not agree with the fee rise generally, especially for existing students who will continue their studies beyond this academic year.

We have lobbied hard to prevent this increase, focussing on continuing students who should not have to face unexpected changes to their fees. Unfortunately, despite these efforts, the decision to proceed with the increase for current and future students has been made.

We have and will continue to push the University to explore other options for students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds, such as through lower fees and greater financial support, for example through an increase in Queen Mary bursary funding, which has not increased for 8 years.

While most students using tuition fee loans will not feel the impact immediately (since loan repayments are based on reaching certain income thresholds after graduation), we know this decision will hit students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds the hardest, particularly those who choose or have to self-fund. That’s why we’ll keep pushing for more financial support for the most vulnerable students in our community, including those struggling with ongoing rising living costs, that is particularly acute for those students living in London.

Meanwhile, whilst we acknowledge the recent government announcement that maintenance loans will increase in line with inflation next year, this follows several years of below-inflation increases that have eroded the value of these loans. Whilst students urgently needed the increase to meet cost pressures, this ultimately adds to the burden of debt post-university, and feels like a sticking plaster, rather than as part of the funding reforms needed. Maintenance grants (previously removed in 2016 and worth up to £3,500 a year) need to be re-introduced to provide better support for students.

Why have tuition fees increased?

Like many universities across the UK, we recognise that Queen Mary is under financial pressures and needs more funding to maintain and improve academic standards and the student experience. However, the university’s own statement suggests this fee increase will not improve the experience of students. This highlights that, yes, universities are in a tough spot currently, but the real issue is clearly bigger than this one fee rise.

Our higher education funding model is completely unsustainable and broken. Students take on massive amounts of debt and the support students can access through loans and grants simply isn’t enough to live on. Meanwhile, institutions like ours still struggle to fund themselves.

It’s a mess, and wider reform is needed rather than increasing the burden on students and asking them to shoulder more of the bill through increasing fees.

What we know from you so far

We’ve recently run several surveys to collect student feedback, and we know from the Students Who Work, Glow Up and Cost of Living surveys that so many students are struggling. Many of you are working long hours to make ends meet, live on tight budgets, and sometimes impossible choices between study and survival against London living costs.

Meanwhile surveys by NUS show that student foodbank use has doubled since 2022. 14% of students use foodbanks, 55% have cut back on food because they couldn’t afford to eat and 13% have experienced homelessness. “Save the Student” also found that the average 2024 maintenance loan only covered 54% of the average living costs of students nationwide.

A system that puts this much pressure on students is one that simply isn’t working.

What needs to happen?

We want the University and other universities to work with us. Together, with other Students’ Union’s across the sector, we’re ready to start the conversation about reforming higher education funding. We’re calling for;

More financial support for students now, especially for those hardest hit by rising costs.
The removal of selected financial penalties, such as scrapping late fees for self-funded students.
A fairer, more sustainable funding system that doesn’t pile ever-increasing pressure onto students.
An immediate Government review of higher education funding in the UK, alongside a review of maintenance grants and international student fees.

We want to hear from you

This is your education and your future. That’s why we’re keen to hear your thoughts on this. Whether you’re a self-funded student, working two jobs or just fed-up with the current fees system – we want to know how this impacts you. Please complete our online form and help us lobby for a better deal and support for students.

Tell us your views