Ministers have dismissed calls to exempt more students from the international fee levy, confirming that English universities will be charged even for enrolments who later drop out.
Publishing its response to a consultation on the coming charge, the Westminster government said it “remains of the view” that institutions should pay the £925 flat fee for any international student who is on their course for two weeks or more, even if they subsequently quit their degree.
It has also told universities that it won’t bend to calls to introduce more exemptions for certain students, for example those taking postgraduate courses, saying introducing “sizeable” concessions could “jeopardise” the revenue generated by the scheme.
The Department for Education (DfE) response confirms plans to introduce the levy from the start of the 2028-29 academic year, despite fears that the fee will aggravate universities’ financial woes.
The sector has been appealing to likely incoming prime minister Andy Burnham to reconsider the move, with the vice-chancellor of Durham University last week calling the levy “absolute insanity”.
