The maximum amount universities will be able to charge will stay at £9,250 a year in 2019.

Education Secretary Damian Hinds also confirmed that students from the EU starting courses in England in the 2019/20 academic year – the first intake after Brexit – will continue to be eligible for ‘home fee status’, which means they will be charged the same tuition fees as UK students.

Hinds said they will also be able to access financial support for the duration of their course on the same basis as is available today.

He said: “I want everyone with the talent and potential to be able to take advantage of our world class universities. We’ve already raised the amount of money graduates need to earn before starting to pay back their student loans, and freezing tuition fees for another year is another example of the steps the Government is taking to support those in higher education.

“Students from the EU make an important contribution to the universities sector and it is a testament to our system that so many students from abroad choose to come and study here. Today we are providing clarity and certainty on their fees for the duration of their courses.”

Alistair Jarvis, chief executive of Universities UK, said: “This announcement on fees and financial support provides much needed clarity for EU students and for universities.

“Students from EU countries can now apply for places on undergraduate courses starting in autumn 2019 with the confidence that they will not have to pay up-front tuition fees and will remain eligible to receive government-backed loans to cover their tuition fee for the duration of their courses.”

Last October the Prime Minister pledged to freeze maximum tuition fees for full-time undergraduate courses in 2018/19 at £9,250 – and increase the amount borrowers can earn to £25,000 before they need to repay their loans.