Tuition Fee Increases 2026

The UK Government has announced that tuition fees for undergraduate students will increase by 2.71% for the academic year beginning in September 2026, rising from £11,440 to £11,750 per year.

After careful consideration, the Fashion Retail Academy and the Falmouth University Board of Governors decided that tuition fees for new undergraduate students will rise in line with this change. 

The costs of delivering a high-quality student experience have significantly increased in recent years, due to national and global impacts. Universities across the UK are facing financial pressures, with many expressing concerns about long-term financial stability.

At the FRA, we will reinvest this additional funding from the increase in tuition fees into delivering a high-quality learning experience for the benefit of our student community.

Student loans will also increase to fully cover the updated fee. While this means you’ll borrow slightly more, you won’t pay anything upfront. Loan repayments only begin once you’re earning above a certain threshold. To check your repayment plan, check the Government website.

Yes, maintenance loans for English students will also rise in recognition of the increasing cost of living.

Maintenance loans are designed to support day-to-day living expenses, such as accommodation, food and travel. Your eligibility is based on factors like household income and where you live.

This increase means that students who qualify for maintenance loans will have additional financial support for living costs from September 2026.

For students from Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, maintenance loans are managed through separate systems. At this time, no announcements have been made about increases for these regions. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to the relevant agencies:

Student Awards Agency Scotland 

Student Finance Northern Ireland

 Student Finance Wales

The UK Government has confirmed that tuition fees will increase for the 27/28 academic year, but have not confirmed any further increases. Tuition fees may increase in future years for both new and continuing students, depending on government decisions. When further details are available, the FRA and Falmouth University will review the changes and communicate them promptly.

If you’d like to speak to someone further, please contact our Applicant Services team. In the event you would like to make a complaint, you can find details of our complaints process here.