Students to save KSh 1.3m: Over 20 UK universities offer tuition fee discounts
This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.
- At least 22 British universities are offering automatic tuition-fee discounts of up to £8,000 (KSh 1.3 million) to overseas postgraduate students
- Kent University is giving master's entrants from 14 countries an automatic £5,000 (KSh 874,200) discount for the first time in its history this September
- Postgraduate enrolment in the UK has dropped 17% over two years as visa restrictions continue to reduce demand from international students
British universities are offering automatic tuition-fee reductions to overseas postgraduate students, as tighter visa regulations and falling enrolment numbers put mounting pressure on institutions that depend heavily on international fee income.
A review of 90 universities by consultancy S Squared Insights found that at least 22 are now providing automatic discounts to postgraduate taught students, with reductions reaching as high as £8,000 (KSh 1.3 million).
The Financial Times reported that unlike traditional scholarship models, these discounts require no separate application and are granted to eligible overseas applicants who meet standard entry requirements.
How much is Kent University's discount?
Kent University has introduced an automatic £5,000 (KSh 874,200) reduction for successful master's applicants from 14 countries ahead of this September's intake, marking the first time in the institution's history it has offered such a concession.
Twelve of the 14 eligible countries are in Asia, according to financial data platform Traders Union.
While international scholarships have long existed in the UK and in competing destinations such as Australia, they have typically been limited in number and linked to conditions beyond basic academic criteria.
The current shift towards broader, automatic pricing incentives signals a more aggressive approach to recruitment.
Why did enrolment drop in UK universities?
The majority of overseas students in the UK enrol on postgraduate programmes, making this segment particularly exposed to policy changes affecting international applicants.
A 2024 ban on international students bringing family members, combined with stricter visa compliance rules, has significantly reduced demand.
Postgraduate enrolment has fallen 17% in the two years to March, a drop that has compounded the financial difficulties facing universities already reliant on international tuition income.
In England, postgraduate taught students generated approximately £5 billion in tuition fees in 2024-25, down from £5.5 billion the previous year, according to the Office for Students.
The sector has projected a 19.9% rise in domestic student numbers and a 22.5% increase in international enrolment by 2028-29.
However, the Office for Students warned in its May financial stability report that these forecasts are overly optimistic. Universities will also face a new international student levy after 2028-29, adding further uncertainty to longer-term revenue planning.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
Reporting originally appeared via TUKO. Read the full source for additional context.