Consultation suggests cutting tuition fees in England to £7,500

But some fear fee reduction proposed in Augar review would harm arts and humanities

A consultation on plans to lower tuition fees in England from £9,250 to £7,500 could begin as early as next month, although some experts have warned that cutting the fee could stifle the provision of humanities subjects.

The Department for Education is reportedly launching a consultation in June on reducing tuition fees from £9,250 to £7,500, amid growing concern among ministers over the public cost of the value of outstanding student loans, which is expected to reach £560 billion by 2050.