Andy Burnham is facing calls to “back young people” and scrap university tuition fees, after new figures revealed graduates in England carry more than twice as much debt as their Scottish counterparts.
Student Loan Company data show that students leaving college or university in Scotland had an average debt of £21,000 in 2025-26, up from £18,050 the previous year. In England, the average loan balance for graduates was £47,730 – down from £53,000 in 2024-25 but still more than double the Scottish figure.
Debt gap despite longer Scottish courses
Higher debt levels in England persist even though Scottish university courses typically last a year longer, with students taking four years to complete an honours degree. SNP MSP Jack Middleton said student debt in England is “spiralling”, criticising the Labour UK Government.
His comments followed the cap on tuition fees for those studying in England rising to £9,535 in 2025-26 – the first increase in eight years. Fees then rose again to £9,790 in 2026-27, with a further increase proposed to £10,050 in 2027-28, breaking the £10,000 barrier for the first time.
SNP calls for free tuition
With the increase coinciding with the Prime Minister’s announcement of plans to end the triple lock on pensions, Mr Middleton claimed Labour is “going after pensioners and our young people in a pincer movement”.
The Scottish Government has said it is committed to maintaining free tuition for Scottish students at universities north of the border. Mr Middleton said the SNP is therefore “shielding our young people from the Westminster debts being handed out south of the border”.
The Aberdeen Central MSP insisted: “No matter someone’s financial situation, they should be able to attend university or college without the barrier of ludicrously high tuition fees. In Scotland, the SNP backs this principle; it is time for Andy Burnham to back young people and do the same.”
Government defends reforms
A UK Government spokesperson said: “We are taking decisive action to improve the student finance system and break down barriers to accessing university, starting with improved and clearer guidance for those taking out loans. That includes increasing maximum maintenance loans, reintroducing targeted maintenance grants to expand opportunities for people from all backgrounds, and raised the repayment threshold for Plan 2 loans for the first time since 2021.
“Higher education funding and student support are devolved matters. In England, we will continue to monitor and improve the student loans system to make it fairer for students, graduates and taxpayers in a financially sustainable way.”
Around 2.86 million students are enrolled in higher education across the UK. By a significant margin, The Open University is the largest university in the UK by overall enrollment.
