UK’s University of Buckingham Slashes Tuition Fees for Accelerated Degrees, Offers Up to 45% Savings
By Aboki Forex —
The University of Buckingham has announced significant tuition fee reductions on selected accelerated degree programmes. Nigerian students hoping to study in the UK could benefit from savings of up to 45% on business, management, and creative writing courses.
The cuts apply to fast-track two-year degrees. Annual fees will now cost £7,830, bringing the total for the full programme to £15,660. That is a sharp drop from the standard three-year degree cost of roughly £28,605 at other UK universities.
The university says the move is aimed at improving affordability and value for money amid rising global costs. Chris Payne, the registrar and chief administrative officer, said: “It seemed to us the time was right, given all the wider debates around value for money and the student cost of living, that we offer something up in terms of getting those headline fees down.”
Buckingham is the UK’s first private university, founded in 1976. Because it is private, its students cannot apply for full government loans and are not bound by the fee caps that apply to public universities. The previous fees for the two-year programmes stood at approximately £27,750.
The university claims that students will save over £25,000 in total, including accommodation and food, by finishing a year earlier. The announcement comes after a tough 2024 financial year, which saw a £2.1 million deficit and leadership challenges.
Interim vice-chancellor David Cole said the initiative challenges the traditional high education fee structure. “We want to demonstrate that it is possible to deliver a high-quality academic experience while providing better value for students,” he said. He added that he hopes the change will support wider debates on sustainability and affordability in higher education.
Industry experts say tuition discounts are becoming a trend among UK universities trying to attract students, especially as institutions finalise plans for the coming academic year. However, analysts note that the price changes may not affect all students, as graduates will still pay a percentage of their earnings above a certain threshold regardless of degree length.
In related news, the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) recently announced that visa applicants, including Nigerians, will now receive electronic visas (eVisas) instead of physical documents. Travellers must access their eVisa through a UKVI account before departure.