UK to charge universities $1,200 per international student

From August 2028, universities in England will pay an annual £925 levy for each international student above an exemption of 220 overseas enrolments. The charge applies to new and existing students, and the Office for Students will administer it using enrolment data; the rate is intended to rise with inflation. A university with 1,000 international students would owe £721,500 a year. Government forecasts put revenue at £445 million in 2028-29, increasing to £480 million by 2030-31. The government says the money will support higher education and skills, and argues that planned increases to domestic tuition-fee caps could bring providers about £6 billion over five years.

The levy affects universities recruiting students from major markets including Nigeria, Kenya, India, China, Pakistan and Bangladesh. International students will not pay it directly, but institutions may raise overseas tuition fees to recoup the cost. That prospect adds pressure for applicants as universities already announce fee increases, while stricter visa rules and weaker international recruitment are straining institutional finances. International higher-education students generated an estimated £23.9 billion in British export revenue in 2024, including £5.3 billion from Indian students and £1.7 billion from Nigerian students. University leaders oppose the charge, questioning whether the government’s revenue forecasts are realistic given recruitment trends and warning that the levy could deepen financial difficulties.