UK would spend up to £450m a year on EU student fees if it wins access to Made in Europe scheme

Summary

Ministers are prepared to spend as much as £450m a year to let students from the EU pay the same fees as British students, but only if Brussels allows the UK to join its Made in Europe industrial programme, according to the Guardian, which says it has learned of the plan. Sources say the government has drawn up plans for students arriving from the continent to pay home fees and is willing to spend hundreds of millions of pounds compensating universities for the cost. The Financial Times reports that Britain will offer cheaper university fees to EU students at a 'reset' summit, ending the international tuition rates European students have paid since Brexit.

Timeline

1. Financial Times

   1 Nov 2026, 17:00 UTCSource ↗

   The Financial Times reports that Britain will offer cheaper university fees to EU students at a 'reset' summit, after European students have paid international tuition rates at UK universities since Brexit.

2. The Guardian

   1 Nov 2026, 17:00 UTCSource ↗

   The Guardian reports, citing sources, that UK ministers would spend as much as £450m a year on discounted fees for EU students, but only if Brussels grants the UK access to its Made in Europe industrial programme.