Students at Kings College London (KCL) have expressed concerns about universities’ bid to raise tuition fees and implementing limits on international student intake.
KCL is a member of Universities UK, an advocacy group representing 141 universities, which is due to publish a ‘blueprint’ of future policy in the coming weeks.
It is expected to call for an increase in tuition fees and outline a voluntary strategy for managing international student numbers.
Since 2017, fees have been capped at £9,250 for English undergraduates, but KCL vice-chancellor Shitij Kapur said earlier this month that fees need to rise to £12,500 for universities to break even, although he acknowledged that this demand could make them look out of touch.
Student Kianna Tomlinson said: “Chances are we are not going to be able to pay it back already.”
Fellow student Hannah Fraser added: “I think international students are a good thing.”
Students raised issue with the affordability of education as well as the environment this trade off could create for internationals.
Student Malak Aarab said: “It shows that the only reason they are being bought in is for financial reasons.”
International students make up 54.4% of the student population at KCL and from next year international undergraduates will pay between £27,100 and £53,000 a year in tuition fees.
In KCL’s terms and conditions they state that international tuition fees may be subject yearly increases.
Egyptian student, Malak Hafez said: “Every year it becomes higher, the fees we pay are a little extortionate.
“If they raise the fees for home students, they should lower the fees for internationals because the difference is a lot.”
The most expensive course for international students at KCL is medicine.
Last year the annual fee was £45,420.
It will rise by £7,580 for the 2025-2026 academic year.
International fees can be found in KCL’s course prospectuses.
Syrian-British student Haya Hamilton said: “We get the same education and same opportunities, it feels unfair.”
KCL continues to partake in recruitment events for students internationally, in the next fortnight they will have representatives at study fairs in Kenya, Turkey and Ghana.
Universities UK makes clear that it does not want to stop international students from studying here.
KCL have been contacted for comment.
Featured image by Markus Leo on Unsplash
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