Average postgraduate fees have risen by £2k in past three years, figures show

The cost of pursuing a postgraduate degree in England has increased by £2000 in the last three years, according to new figures from The Times. 

This comes in the context of undergraduate fees already set to rise this year, prompting questions about the affordability of further education.

Since university fees were introduced in 1998, they have risen steadily. The average price of a one year master’s degree is now £12,700, above the set level for a year of undergraduate study. 

This figure can be much higher however, with a one year program studying public policy at Oxford University reaching £53,340.

The new average fee surpasses the maximum loan on offer for postgraduates, making it difficult for those without the funds to pursue these degrees

Some institutions have claimed that increased student loans could be the solution. The new average fee surpasses the maximum loan on offer for postgraduates, making it difficult for those without the funds to pursue these degrees.

However, the average debt owed by an English student on entry to payment is already now almost £49,000 per person. 

Some have argued the situation is a consequence of overreliance by universities on the increased fees provided by international students. 

As the BBC reported in October last year, international applications to UK universities have dropped by 16%. This poses a serious risk to the finances of higher learning institutions, with the consequences being passed down partially onto students seeking postgraduate education.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the government would scrap the “mixed messaging” around international students, stating “international students are welcome in the UK”.

But the extent to which this will alleviate the pressure of fees on those seeking higher education will have to wait to be seen.