Levy on international students’ tuition fees not in best interest of UK, says leader of top university

Duncan Ivison, president of Manchester University, says government's 6% surcharge plan will hurt the sector'

A levy on tuition fees paid by international students is wrong", will hurt the sector" and is not in the long-term interests" of the UK, according to the vice-chancellor of one of the country's leading universities.

Duncan Ivison, who took over as president and vice-chancellor of the University of Manchester (UoM) last year, was speaking ahead of the budget later this month when the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, is expected to flesh out her plans for the proposed 6% surcharge.