IHEF 2026: High cost of living and tuition fees making UK less attractive for international students

The UK is becoming less attractive to international students looking to study abroad thanks to a range of factors, including the high cost of living and student fees. This was one of the main takeaways from the International Higher Education Forum (IHEF) 2026 organised by UK Universities International (UUKi) in London on 06 and 07/05/2026.

As most international students prefer to study in English, the UK has been one of the most attractive destinations worldwide for students. At the same time, the change in funding for UK universities so that they rely on tuition fees for the majority of their income means that UK higher education institutions have become increasingly dependent on the fee income from overseas students. These students generally pay around three times the level of fees paid by UK students. This means fees of around £27,000-30,000 (€31,135-34,595) per year.

According to a presentation given at the event by Rachel MacSween, director of partnership and student engagement at IDP Education, there are multiple reasons for the decline in the UK’s attractiveness. IDP is an…