UK International Student Levy: What the £925 Charge Means for Sri Lankan Applicants

TL;DR: The UK government will charge universities in England an international student levy of £925 per international student per year, starting from the 2028/29 academic year. Universities pay it, not students, and each university gets an allowance of 220 international students before the levy applies. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are not covered. If you are planning a one-year UK master's starting in January 2027, you finish before the levy begins. Later starts may overlap with it, but the university pays, not you.

Headlines about a new "UK student levy" have left many Sri Lankan families asking whether UK study is about to cost more. The short answer is that the levy is a charge on universities in England, it starts later than most people think, and it does not change the visa rules at all. Here is what has actually been confirmed.

What the international student levy is

The Department for Education confirmed the details in its technical consultation response, published in July 2026:

• Amount: £925 per international student per year.
• Who pays: the university, not the student.
• Start: from academic year 2028/29. GOV.UK gives the start date as 1 August 2028 on its levy policy page.
• Where: registered higher education providers in England only.
• Allowance: the first 220 international students at each provider are not counted.
• Collection: by the Office for Students, with the money reinvested in higher education and skills in England.

The government ran a technical consultation from November 2025 to February 2026 and has confirmed the levy will go ahead.

Why the government is introducing it

The consultation response says the money will be fully reinvested into higher education and skills. It names targeted maintenance grants for students on courses linked to the government's priorities, along with support for progression and skills.

Before any money is collected, the government plans two trial calculations using data from the 2026/27 and 2027/28 academic years, with results shared in early 2028 and early 2029. Those trials are for universities. They do not charge anyone and do not affect current applicants.

Which students count

The levy counts international students, meaning students without home fee status, on courses at level 4 and above. That covers both undergraduate and postgraduate study.

The consultation response lists students who do not count, including:

• Students who leave within two weeks of starting.
• Students studying entirely outside the UK or only by distance learning.
• Students who spend fewer than eight consecutive weeks in the UK.
• Students on non-credit-bearing courses, or at level 3 and below.

Does it change your intake plans?

Match your planned start date against the levy start date.

"Covered" here means your university may pay the levy for you as a student. It does not mean you receive a separate bill.

Will UK tuition fees go up?

The government does not set international tuition fees. Each university sets its own international fees every year. Some may raise fees to cover the cost. A university with 220 or fewer international students pays nothing.

What this means in practice: do not assume a price change until the university publishes its fees for your intake. Compare the published tuition fee, not the headline.

England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

The levy applies to providers in England only. Universities in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are outside it.

That is one more factor when you compare universities, but it should not be the deciding one. A course that fits your background and career goals matters far more than a £925 charge that the university, not you, pays. If Scotland is on your list, our guide to studying in Scotland as an international student covers costs, visas and graduate jobs.

Three questions to ask a UK university

If you are comparing English universities for a later intake, ask the admissions team:

1. Is your published international fee fixed for the full length of my course?
2. Have you announced any fee change linked to the levy for my intake?
3. Are your scholarships for international students changing for my intake?

Get the answers in writing and keep them with your offer.

What does not change

The levy does not change the Student visa or the Graduate visa. It does not change how much money you must show for your visa, which is set separately in the Immigration Rules. It does not change English language requirements or how you apply.

Frequently asked questions

What is the UK international student levy? A charge of £925 per international student per year on higher education providers in England, starting from the 2028/29 academic year.

Do students pay the international student levy? No. Universities pay it. Each university sets its own tuition fees, so any effect on what you pay will vary.

Does the levy apply in Scotland? No. It applies to providers in England only.

Does the levy affect a September 2027 master's? Possibly, if your course runs past 1 August 2028. Even then, the university pays the levy, not you.

Does the levy change UK student visa rules? No. Visa, funds and English requirements are set separately.

PS: The levy is one line in a much bigger decision about where and what to study in the UK. If you want a shortlist of UK courses that fits your background, budget and intake, check your eligibility with Prosper and we will work through it with you.

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Team Prosper