UK University Fees

[SamB]

Hi I was just wondering what peoples views are on our new coalition governments (:mad:) increase of university fees are.

I really want to go to university but if they do put this into place I will never be able to afford it and then I will not be able to do what to do later in life :(

[The Dark Lord]

The coalition gov't plan to treble tutitution fees in England. In Scotland we still have free University places, although this will soon change. My major issue with the raise is the behaviour of Nick Clegg and the LibDems, who campaigned on abolishing tutitution fees, shameful behaviour from "calamaity" Clegg.

[Peace God]

How much is the increase?

[SamB]

The most they will be able to charge per year will be £9000 and i am looking to do a 4 year course you do the maths. and Nick Clegg is just a hypocrite grr makes me angry

[Peace God]

The most they will be able to charge per year will be £9000
Im still confused...that doesnt show an increase, just a limit.

[Fact]

How much is the increase?

The increase is from an upper limit of £3000, to £9000. That's triple.

I share Sam's feelings. Although I don't usually take much interest in the government, I'm kinda annoyed at this issue. I really want to go to university (can't pursue my chosen career without it) and with them raising the fees like this, it's going to make it so much more difficult than it has to be.

I was listening to the radio earlier and a member of the public they interviewed said that the government needs to "get their priorities right", which I agree with. There was then a clip from a politicians speech who said something about "students shouldn't be let off" - this made me angry. Students aren't being 'let off' from having responsibility to the government just because they don't pay sky high tuition fees. All the university students that I know have a job etc. so they're already paying tax from that as well as other things to the government.

I just find the whole situation quite infuriating to be honest. The government should be promoting people to go to university, not creating a rich/poor divide like they are basically doing now.

[Peace God]

The increase is from an upper limit of £3000, to £9000. That's triple.
Ahh ok. Well that sucks.
But at least there not forcing colleges to increase the tuition(which is what i thought at first). Plus your new limit is still cheaper than a lot of colleges over here.

Are student loans common over there?

[Fact]

Are student loans common over there?

I believe so.
Can you imagine having a loan on that kind of money though? Even if they had 'low interest' loans, it'd still be a ridiculous amount of money to pay and a lot of people just won't be able to afford it, I may fall into that category when the time comes.

[Peace God]

Can you imagine having a loan on that kind of money though?
HAHAHA...i dont have to imagine

[SamB]

Student loans over here work on a basis that you only start to pay them off when you start a full time job and are able to pay it back and I think (don't take my word for it) that you only start to get an interest on it when you start the full time employment.

And Fact you comment on the rich/poor divid is exactly what they are trying to do argg I don't understand this either as they said they wanted to end the recession and they are doing this by making people leave university with huge debts, this works how?

[Peace God]

Well im assuming the universities have been complaining about this for a while. Im sure some those colleges have legitimate reasons for needing more money (like improving the school & quality of education).
Student loans over here work on a basis that you only start to pay them off when you start a full time job and are able to pay it back.
Over here you have to start paying 6 months after you finish college.

[karl]

52,000 protest in Westminster over shake-up
Millbank and Tory HQ overrun by rampaging students
Rioters warn: 'This is only the beginning'

Eight are treated in hospital, with three police also injured
'Embarrassed' police admit they were only prepared for peaceful march

MI5 HQ sealed with officers guarding exits

Clegg defends Lib Dem U-turn on hike at PMQs

Cameron: Rise will mean foreign students pay less
Students went on the rampage today as a huge protest against the coalition's controversial move to hike tuition fees turned violent.

Around 52,000 students and teachers travelled to London for a march and rally in Westminster against the Government's plans to raise fees from £3,290-a-year to up to £9,000.
Scotland Yard appeared to have been caught on the hop as the peaceful protest descended into riots shortly after 1pm when many left the planned route and headed to Tory party headquarters.
Met Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson said the force should have anticipated the level of violence 'better', adding: 'It's not acceptable. It's an embarrassment for London and to us and we have to do something about that.
'I just do think that we cannot accept that level of behaviour.



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1328385/Student-tuition-fee-protesters-smash-Millbank-Tory-HQ.html#ixzz14uKQijDY

[Patchy]

Doesn't affect Scotland since the Student Award Agency Scotland (SAAS) pays for the first four years of advanced education.

However, Im fucking raging about this. In the olden days advanced education such as Uni was only for the rich due tot he high fees. In this modern age advanced education should be available to almost anyone that does well at school - Its dammed hard enough getting through Uni at the current cost why the fuck should they go much higher.

Seriously, this coalition government was meant to be the government for young people. So far its gonna cost us a ridiculous amount. If I was in London I would most definitely be joining the protesters (Maybe not the rioting ones but still)

[nick]

In our parents time university education was free, it was the labour government of Tony Blair that brought in the fees and student loans. Its pretty scandalous, and people like to forget, that a labour government started all of this. Tuition fees only started in 1998.

See here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Student_loans_in_the_United_Kingdom) for more information

[The Dark Lord]

I was listening to the radio earlier and a member of the public they interviewed said that the government needs to "get their priorities right", which I agree with. There was then a clip from a politicians speech who said something about "students shouldn't be let off" - this made me angry. Students aren't being 'let off' from having responsibility to the government just because they don't pay sky high tuition fees. All the university students that I know have a job etc. so they're already paying tax from that as well as other things to the government.

I just find the whole situation quite infuriating to be honest. The government should be promoting people to go to university, not creating a rich/poor divide like they are basically doing now.

To be fair, you don't need to pay it off until you are earning over £21000 and there is no up front payment. Also someone who earns £25000 a year only pays back £30 a month, which isn't particularly expensive


Doesn't affect Scotland since the Student Award Agency Scotland (SAAS) pays for the first four years of advanced education.

Don't hold your breath, Alex Salmond has already conceded that they are an option, meaning that they almost certainly will be introduced

However, Im fucking raging about this. In the olden days advanced education such as Uni was only for the rich due tot he high fees. In this modern age advanced education should be available to almost anyone that does well at school - Its dammed hard enough getting through Uni at the current cost why the fuck should they go much higher.

I actually think its a good idea to make Uni more elitest so only the top 3% go to Uni as opposed to the top 50% it is now. Too much is concentrated on university places, more should be done to get jobs and apprenticeships for young people. People who don't go to university are treated as 2nd class citizens. I would rather learn a trade as a plumber than gain a degree in media studies at University. However, due to the 80% cuts in higher education spending (according to Harriet Harperson today at PMQs), I think university spaces should only be available to british people for british universities, there is far too much competition as it is.

My major issue isn't with the rise themselves, it was inevitable due to the Browne Report, but the way it has been carried out by Willets, Clegg and Cable. You simply cannot campaign with a signed pledge to abolish tutitution fees only to treble them within 6 months. I think this will be the issue that the LibDems collapse on. Students will be well organised at the upcoming Oldham by-election and in 2015 (the general election) and the LibDems who have supported the tories will be found out, Nick Clegg's seat has been a marginal seat even before tutitution fees so I'm betting come 2015, the Deputy Prime Minister will lose his seat in the house of commons

[nobatteries]

Hi all from australia.

Fees are ever increasing, and yes i agree that we should strive for freee education for all. All too many times polies make promises before elections to get elected, and then back flip once in power to the detriment of the people that voted them into power.

MY SOLUTION TO THIS ISSUE IS SIMPLE, ALL STUDENTS IN THE UK TAKE 1 YEAR SEBATICLE FROM THEIR STUDIES. THIS WAY PEOPLE POWER WILL SPEAK LOUD AND CLEAR, AND IN THE PROCESS THESE UNIVERSITIES WILL CRUMBLE WHEN NO FEES ARE PAID AT ALL. I GIVE THEM A MONTH BEFORE THEY HEAR YOUR VOICE (AND GO BANKRUPT IN THE PROCESS) AS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE FIRST PLACE.

This way I hope they hear your frustrations.

good luck too all.

[Kaius]

I'm still pretty bloody angry about it, they're asking to make the country a worse place never mind a better one. They moan about the youth of today not having jobs, dropping out of university or college and not going onto university. It can't work both ways. For us to be successful we need to be educated, and if they're taking those chances away from us or making them harder for us to get to then they can't be surprised that hardly anyone has decent jobs or actually gets anywhere in life. They've royally messed up this time.

[Fact]

I actually think its a good idea to make Uni more elitest so only the top 3% go to Uni as opposed to the top 50% it is now.

1) Do you think the top 3% can cover all the jobs that are needed in the UK that require university tuition?

2) Do you think the top 3% that can afford to go are all going to want to fill those positions that are needed?

I take your point on not having to pay it back until later, though. At least people have that advantage. However, I don't see how it would help the economy or the government's situation in general by raising tuition fees to make it more elite as you said.

[The Dark Lord]

1) Do you think the top 3% can cover all the jobs that are needed in the UK that require university tuition?.

3% is an unrealistic number but there is no way that 50% of jobs in the UK require university tutution eg look at business- so long as you can make good decisions and can sell, you don't need a degree to succeed

2) Do you think the top 3% that can afford to go are all going to want to fill those positions that are needed?

I think university places should be free but for only straight A students, so cost wouldn't be an issue

I take your point on not having to pay it back until later, though. At least people have that advantage. However, I don't see how it would help the economy or the government's situation in general by raising tuition fees to make it more elite as you said.

It helps the gov't by allowing them to cut public spending on Universities and this in turn helps the economy as it cuts public spending to cut the deficit, thats the theory away. The government's motive isn't to make University more elitest, its the opposite. I just wish it was more elitest.

[Fact]

3% is an unrealistic number but there is no way that 50% of jobs in the UK require university tutution eg look at business- so long as you can make good decisions and can sell, you don't need a degree to succeed

I think university places should be free but for only straight A students, so cost wouldn't be an issue

It helps the gov't by allowing them to cut public spending on Universities and this in turn helps the economy as it cuts public spending to cut the deficit, thats the theory away. The government's motive isn't to make University more elitest, its the opposite. I just wish it was more elitest.

I agree with the part about straight A students. I think if people clearly have the brain for university, they should be allowed to attend if it's what they want. I've heard some crazy stories, though, about going to university to get degrees in ridiculously useless things, which I think is fairly pointless.

Also, I think that a lot of people don't really go to university to learn, merely because they can afford the experience. I feel that universities would become more full of these people if the prices rose, due to the fact that people who actually cared about their education would be pushed out.

I know the government's theory on cutting public spending, but surely education is a key factor to a successful government and, in essence, a successful country? I'm thinking about places such as many countries within Africa, that have no real education system. Yeah, okay, they have shit loads of other problems as well, but education would be a key factor in helping them out the hole their in.
So, surely by reducing spending on education, the government are basically taking a step back?
I get that cuts have to be made somewhere, I just don't think education was the right place to make those cuts during such a delicate and crucial economic climate.

[nick]

I have a lot of sympathy with Matt's views. Its ridiculous trying to send 50% of kids to university, defeats the object which is surely to single out people of higher ability (not wealth). It would be better to reduce the number of university places and go back to the principal that education is free.

If the people that go to university go on to reach higher paid jobs they will end up paying more tax than other people, probably in higher tax bands, and so will end up paying it back anyway.

[ShyGuyInChicago]

Hi I was just wondering what peoples views are on our new coalition governments (:mad:) increase of university fees are.

I really want to go to university but if they do put this into place I will never be able to afford it and then I will not be able to do what to do later in life :(

Can't you get scholarships and loans and grants and other forms of financial assistance?

[The Dark Lord]

Can't you get scholarships and loans and grants and other forms of financial assistance?

most students will now be leaving university with £30000 debts regardless tbh

[Fact]

most students will now be leaving university with £30000 debts regardless tbh

Just looking at that number makes my bank hurt already.
Do they even do grants anymore? I heard that they didn't.

[The Dark Lord]

Just looking at that number makes my bank hurt already.
Do they even do grants anymore? I heard that they didn't.

I'm not sure but I'd imagine they would be cut substantially if they did survive at all