UK university fees 2026/27: Autumn Budget levy and confirmed tuition
The UK government introduced a £925 annual levy per international student in the Autumn Budget 2025 , effective from August 2028 . UK university fees 2026/27 have already increased at many institutions as universities set international tuition independently.
UK university fees 2026/27 — what changed
Russell Group universities published higher 2026/27 international fees across many programmes. The University of Manchester has said it reserves the right to increase international fees by up to 7% annually .
UCL’s confirmed postgraduate taught (PGT) fees for 2026/27 range from £22,900 (Arts/Social Sciences) to £69,367 (Medicine/Clinical). LSE’s General Course fee for 2026/27 is £29,600 .
Key 2026/27 fee figures (selected)
| Institution / Item | 2026/27 fee (GBP) |
|---|---|
| UCL PGT — Arts / Social Sciences | £22,900 |
| UCL PGT — Engineering / Sciences | £39,200 |
| UCL PGT — Medicine / Clinical | £69,367 |
| LSE — General Course (2026/27) | £29,600 |
| Manchester MSc non-clinical (2026/27) | £26,000–£36,500 |
| UK student visa fee (from Apr 8, 2026 ) | £558 |
| Government levy per international student (from Aug 2028 ) | £925 / year |
UK university fees 2026/27: levy, timeline and university exposure
The levy is payable by universities, not directly by students, and the first 220 international students per institution are exempt. Government modelling estimates a £330 million annual impact on English universities.
UCL has publicly confirmed it will not pass the levy on to students and faces an estimated £24 million annual bill. King's College London faces about £22 million , Manchester roughly £18–20 million , and LSE around £8–10 million per year.
Universities may still increase tuition independently. For example, a typical Manchester MSc that cost about £28k–£34k in 2025/26 would cost about £29,960–£36,380 in 2026/27 at a 7% increase.
Practical dates, numbers and currency
- Autumn Budget 2025 : levy announced.
- August 2028 : levy effective (academic year 2028/29 ).
- April 8, 2026 : UK student visa fee rises from £524 to £558 .
- Exchange rate : 1 GBP = ₹124.46 (as of Mar 31, 2026 ).
More than 143,000 Indian students are enrolled at UK universities; multi-year programme students starting in 2026 should check how their institution treats annual increases and the levy for years that fall in 2028/29 .
FAQs
Q: Who pays the
£925
levy?
A: Universities pay the levy to the government; they may choose to pass costs to students via fee increases.
Q: Is any student exempt from the levy?
A: Yes. The first
220 international students per institution
are exempt from the levy.
Q: Which universities have committed to absorb the levy?
A: UCL has confirmed it will not pass the levy on to students; most other institutions have not publicly committed.
Q: Does the levy affect 1-year MSc students starting Sept 2026?
A: No. A 1-year MSc starting Sept 2026 will end before the levy takes effect in Aug 2028.
Q: What is the UK student visa fee from
Apr 8, 2026
?
A: The fee is
£558
from
Apr 8, 2026
(previously £524).
Q: How to convert fees to INR?
A: Use the official exchange rate;
1 GBP = ₹124.46
(as of
Mar 31, 2026
) for estimates.
Q: How large is the sector impact modelled by government?
A: Official modelling estimates about
£330 million
annual impact on English universities.
Q: What should multi-year students do?
A: Check your programme fee schedule and ask the university whether it will absorb the levy or apply annual fee increases that could include the levy from
2028/29
.