UK universities are facing a financial crisis due to a significant drop in international student applications and long-standing restrictions on visas, prompting calls for an increase in domestic tuition fees. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson acknowledged the challenges during the Universities UK conference, stating that 'all options' are being considered to address the funding issues facing higher education. Tuition fees for domestic students have been frozen at £9,250 since 2017, leading to warnings that 40% of English universities may fall into deficit this year. Professor Shitij Kapur of King’s College London suggested that fees should be increased to between £12,000 and £13,000 to ensure financial stability and high-quality education. The current situation has created a sense of urgency among university leaders to act decisively to prevent further decline in the sector. The Universities UK is expected to release a blueprint with proposals for reform in the coming weeks.