The 2025 regulations amended the 2019 Higher Education (Registration Fees) (England) Regulations, increasing registration fees for English higher education institutions by 3.9%, effective August 1st, 2025.
The Higher Education (Registration Fees) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2025, effective July 1st, 2025, amend the 2019 regulations to increase registration fees for English higher education institutions by 3.9%, aligning with inflation.
The new fees, payable from August 1st, 2025, are based on the number of full-time equivalent students and are determined by a revised fee schedule.
The regulations are supported by the Higher Education and Research Act 2017 and Treasury consent, aiming to fund the Office for Students' oversight of higher education in England.
Arguments For
Increased Funding for Higher Education Oversight: The fee increase provides additional resources for the Office for Students (OfS), the higher education regulator in England, enabling enhanced oversight and support for institutions.
Cost Recovery and Inflation Adjustment: The 3.9% increase helps to align registration fees with inflation and ensures the cost of regulating higher education institutions is appropriately covered.
Legal Basis and Ministerial Consent: The regulations are made under the authority of the Higher Education and Research Act 2017 and have received the required consent from the Treasury, providing a solid legal foundation.
Transparent Fee Structure: The revised fee schedule is clearly outlined, allowing for transparency and predictability for higher education institutions.
Arguments Against
Potential Burden on Higher Education Institutions: The fee increase may place an additional financial burden on higher education institutions, particularly smaller ones with limited resources.
No Significant Impact Assessment: The lack of a full impact assessment raises concerns about the potential wider consequences of the fee increase on the sector.
Alternative Funding Mechanisms: The government could explore alternative funding mechanisms for OfS, such as direct government grants, to avoid placing a direct financial burden on higher education institutions.
Unintended Consequences for Student Fees: While not explicitly stated, there is potential for the increased costs of regulation to indirectly impact student fees in the future.
- Citation, commencement, extent and application (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Higher Education (Registration Fees) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 and come into force on 1st July 2025. (2) These Regulations extend to England and Wales. (3) Regulation 2 applies to the amount of the ongoing fee payable by an institution on or after 1st August 2025.
This section provides essential administrative details.
It names the regulations, sets their effective date (July 1st, 2025), and clarifies their geographical scope (England and Wales).
It also specifies that the fee changes in Regulation 2 begin on August 1st, 2025.
- Amendment of the Higher Education (Registration Fees) (England) Regulations 2019 For the table in the Schedule to the Higher Education (Registration Fees) (England) Regulations 2019, substitute— | Fee band | Number of full-time equivalent students | Ongoing fee | |---|---|---| | A | No more than 25 | £14,775 | | B | More than 25 but no more than 50 | £18,283 | | C | More than 50 but no more than 75 | £22,901 | | D | More than 75 but no more than 100 | £28,688 | | E | More than 100 but no more than 300 | £35,890 | | F | More than 300 but no more than 500 | £45,001 | | G | More than 500 but no more than 1,000 | £56,451 | | H | More than 1,000 but no more than 1,500 | £70,857 | | I | More than 1,500 but no more than 2,500 | £88,955 | | J | More than 2,500 but no more than 5,000 | £111,794 | | K | More than 5,000 but no more than 10,000 | £140,605 | | L | More than 10,000 but no more than 20,000 | £176,987 | | M | More than 20,000 | £222,850 |
This section replaces the fee schedule in the 2019 regulations.
It establishes a tiered system where the registration fee for higher education institutions in England depends on its number of full-time equivalent students.
The new fees represent a 3.9% increase in fees from the previous schedule.
Explanatory Note (This note is not part of the Regulations) These Regulations amend the Higher Education (Registration Fees) (England) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/543) (“the 2019 Regulations”). Regulation 2 increases by 3.9% the ongoing fee set out in the 2019 Regulations which the Office of Students (“OfS”), the regulator for higher education in England, may charge an institution for its registration in the register of English higher education providers. The register is maintained by the OfS under section 3 of the Higher Education and Research Act 2017 (c.29). By virtue of regulation 1(3), the increase applies to the amount of the ongoing fee payable by an institution on or after 1st August 2025. A full impact assessment has not been produced for these Regulations because no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.
The explanatory note summarizes the changes.
It states that these regulations modify the 2019 Higher Education (Registration Fees) Regulations by increasing the ongoing registration fee by 3.9%.
The increase, applied from August 1st, 2025, is intended to cover the Office for Students' costs.
Finally note that it confirms that a full impact assessment was not deemed necessary.
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