International fees stayed at their peak after the Executive reported “turbulence”.

From November 2023 the minutes record the “changing position regarding international student recruitment”, “no shows” and “turbulence”. International fees dipped in 2023/24, and £20m of costs were cut in the eight months to December 2024. In 2024/25 international fees rose to £104.5m, 44.8% of all income, the highest share in seven years of accounts. Source

International fees as a share of all income

Full-time international tuition fees ÷ total income, year to July. This is money, not headcount. Hover for the £ figures.

6 Dec 2023
The Executive tells governors of “turbulence in the international student market”. The same meeting approves accounts in which the Vice-Chancellor lists “increasing international student numbers” as a way to manage income shortfalls.
Source: Board minutes, items 5c and 8
4 Dec 2024
“£20m of costs had been taken out of the organisation in 8 months.”
Source: Board minutes, item 4a
6 Feb 2025
An extra London building stays open “to accommodate the current increase in recruitment”.
Source: Board minutes, item 19

After the warnings

Most of the growth came before November 2023, and many universities relied on international fees. After the warnings, Sunderland’s share stayed at its peak and edged up to 44.8%. In December 2025 the Vice-Chancellor wrote that “it is likely that our financial situation will come under pressure again at some point in the future”. In semester one of 2026/27, international enrolment was 40% lower than a year earlier. Source