Reform UK has said it would block taxpayer-backed student loans for some university courses it describes as “Mickey Mouse degrees”, leaving affected students to pay their fees privately. The proposal, announced by the party’s education spokeswoman Suella Braverman, would target subjects including gender studies, queer theory and critical race theory if Reform enters government and introduces the policy.
However, the plan is not currently in force. Students preparing to start university should continue to follow existing funding rules and check their eligibility through official channels before making financial decisions.
The proposal was reported on Sunday, 2 August 2026, as Reform UK seeks to develop its education programme under party leader Nigel Farage. Braverman, a former home secretary, has been placed in charge of the party’s education and equalities policies.
Students could be required to pay privately
Braverman said courses considered to have weak employment results or limited public value should no longer qualify for government-backed tuition funding.
“If people wanted to study those courses, they would need to fund them privately. The British taxpayer would not fund them,” she said.
Under the proposed system, students choosing an affected course would be unable to use the normal public loan scheme to cover their tuition fees. They would instead need personal savings, family support, private finance or other funding such as UK scholarships.
Reform has presented the plan as a way to protect taxpayers and encourage young people to choose courses that lead to employment, further study or recognised professional skills.
The proposal also fits the party’s wider support for technical and vocational education. Braverman has previously argued that too many young people are pushed towards university when apprenticeships, skilled trades and other training routes may provide better opportunities for some students.
How would courses be selected?
Important details have not yet been explained.
The original report did not set out who would decide whether a degree offers “little value”, whether an entire subject would lose funding or whether individual courses would be assessed separately.
It also did not explain whether current students would be protected, whether universities could appeal against a decision or whether exemptions would apply to courses with strong results at particular institutions.
These details would matter because two universities can offer courses with similar names but produce different completion rates, employment results and student experiences.
The Office for Students, which regulates higher education in England, already examines three main outcomes: whether students continue their studies, complete their courses and progress into professional employment, further education or another recognised positive destination.
Reform has not said whether it would use those existing measurements or create a new system based on the subject being studied.
The phrase “Mickey Mouse degree” is political language rather than an official academic classification. It is normally used by politicians and commentators to describe courses they believe offer poor employment prospects or insufficient value for their cost.
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No immediate change to student finance
For students in England, current government guidance says eligible applicants may receive a Tuition Fee Loan to cover course fees and a Maintenance Loan to help with living costs. Tuition Fee Loans are paid directly to the university or college, while maintenance support is paid to the student.
For the 2026–27 academic year, the maximum standard full-time fee at an approved fee-capped provider with the required teaching award and access plan is £9,790. Eligible students at those institutions can receive a tuition loan covering the full approved fee.
Students should therefore not cancel applications or assume that particular degrees have already lost their funding. Any Reform proposal would first require the party to enter government and then introduce the necessary rules or legislation.
Applicants should also read the conditions attached to any student loan before accepting funding. Eligibility depends on factors including the course, institution, residency status and previous study.
The debate is likely to focus on whether public funding should be tied closely to graduate earnings and employment, or whether degrees should also be judged by their wider educational, cultural and social value.
It will also raise concerns about access. Students from wealthier homes may still be able to pay privately for excluded courses, while those from lower-income families could have fewer choices.
Reform will face pressure to publish clear criteria, financial estimates and an appeals process before the proposal can be treated as a complete policy.
