Think tank director says tuition fees should rise to stop university ‘decline’

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The director of the Social Market Foundation says university tuition fees should rise to stop the decline of the higher education sector. Social Market Foundation director James Kirkup He said “typically” international students pay £20,000 when domestic students pay around £9,000. Restoring them to their 2017 value would mean students paying £11,765 a year, adding almost £3 billion to each year’s cohort.” Mr Kirkup said this would require a change to the loan repayment scheme, and said one idea is to introduce a stepped rate of loan repayments. Higher education needs more money and it should come from graduates rather than taxpayers as a whole.” Mr Kirkup said while the conclusion is “awkward”, the alternative is the “decline of a sector that should be one of the best things about Britain”.