Student tuition fees on the rise

savvystudent

I started university only one year after tuition fees were first introduced by the Labour government, but after all that's going on with the cuts and talks of uncapped tuition fees I feel like I got lucky.

I personally think it's outrageous that future and current students are firstly being denied learning opportunities and secondly being educated into more and more debt. Why should we pay for the mistakes of the past, when it is businesses which benefit most from a skilled workforce. Why don't the MPs and bank CEOs pay back for their degrees? After all they've got the money!

I'll be attending the Demo in London next month and have signed the online petition against increased fees. Is anyone else thinking of going?

As students, we really need to stand up for ourselves when we're being targeted in this way by those with power to determine our future!

Taiko

Then you're a complete moron.

At the moment, you are protesting a review, not policy. It's just words on some posh paper. Fee loans are still going to be available if the review is implemented, but as yet there's nothing to suggest it will be in full. In fact, the minister for universities has already came out and said fees wouldn't be raised to £12,000.

Seriously, do your research, don't just protest a blind cause for the free bus ride.

savvystudent

Ouch, a bit harsh. Why can't someone protest a review which recommends a government to take action? It would be a bit futile to protest something which has already gone ahead.

Yes, there will be loans and grants available to support the fees, but this is just a deferred cost.. with interest. Even if fees are capped at £7,000 that's still more than double what is is currently. This is not just a debt that graduates will be burdened with but a cost which will put off many able students who are rightly fearful of the heavy debt.

When Cameron's going on about reducing the national deficit, I find it ironic he's paving the way to a whole educated generation owing vast sums of money.

Taiko

Think in a logical sense. A fee increase would make a few people reconsider. But it would also make people think hard about the course they're wanting to take. If implemented, people will go to university with a career in mind, rather than because they feel they have to.

Support will stay at similar levels if the review is implemented. The only thing is a few people may decide not to go. People will also hopefully try harder on their courses, meaning less repeats. This is where savings would arise.

Lokolo

savvystudent wrote: »

Yes, there will be loans and grants available to support the fees, but this is just a deferred cost.. with interest.

The interest is the rate of inflation so the money you borrow will be the same value as you pay back.

Loans will be available for all, as well as grants. So students wouldn't think twice about going if they were sure they wanted to go. They would only have doubts if they were only going because "its cool".

savvystudent

Lokolo wrote: »

The interest is the rate of inflation so the money you borrow will be the same value as you pay back.

Loans will be available for all, as well as grants. So students wouldn't think twice about going if they were sure they wanted to go. They would only have doubts if they were only going because "its cool".

Unfortunately the government is also considering charging a market rate of interest on student loans - www. bbc.co.uk/news/education-11512257

I'm sure, and know for a fact, that many lower income students would think twice about going to university. It becomes a game of background, with those from a better off family not having to think twice about going, and yes maybe going just "because its cool".

"Loans available to all" is not something to celebrate, it equals debt in the long run. You're missing the point, it's the principle of the fees and cuts to education which needs to be addressed. Education should be a right and not a privilege.

Lokolo

savvystudent wrote: »

Unfortunately the government is also considering charging a market rate of interest on student loans - www. bbc.co.uk/news/education-11512257

I'm sure, and know for a fact, that many lower income students would think twice about going to university. It becomes a game of background, with those from a better off family not having to think twice about going, and yes maybe going just "because its cool".

"Loans available to all" is not something to celebrate, it equals debt in the long run. You're missing the point, it's the principle of the fees and cuts to education which needs to be addressed. Education should be a right and not a privilege.

Please find me proof then.

And so you are basically saying that all taxpayers should continue to pay to allow everyone to have a degree?

Education for most is a right, but it shouldn't be a right upto degree level. Otherwise everyone will have a degree, and then how do you determine who gets what jobs? Who does the lower paid jobs, such as bin disposal? Who works in McDonalds? etc.etc.

savvystudent

Ok, firstly it's basic economics - law of supply and demand. Then just read a few of the comments on the petition from the last week alone:
www. savethestudent.org/petition-against-uncapped-tuition-fees (sorry still can't post links).

And that's a bit of a jump.. I'm against raising fees and putting the full burden on young people who want to learn and progress in their careers.

I don't suppose you realise just how much an educated workforce is worth to our economy (and thus taxpayers), especially as we have 1. an ageing population and 2. a predominately knowledge-based economy. I definitely think taxpayers should support students. Why not? Before tuition fees came in under Labour taxpayers paid 100% of a student's degree. Today 'we' spend billions on killing innocent people in the Middle East.

I'm actually shocked as to how this thread has been received. Why do people find it so necessary to place judgement and spark arguments on these online forums? Why the 'ganging up' on students? Do you support the proposed increase in fees? From the looks of it you're a student yourself.

Oldernotwiser

savvystudent wrote: »

Education should be a right and not a privilege.

Degree level education should be a right only for those who are able to benefit from it without the system being dumbed down for them. The system now is madness.

Indie_Kid

savvystudent wrote: »

Ouch, a bit harsh. Why can't someone protest a review which recommends a government to take action? It would be a bit futile to protest something which has already gone ahead.

Yes, there will be loans and grants available to support the fees, but this is just a deferred cost.. with interest. Even if fees are capped at £7,000 that's still more than double what is is currently. This is not just a debt that graduates will be burdened with but a cost which will put off many able students who are rightly fearful of the heavy debt.

When Cameron's going on about reducing the national deficit, I find it ironic he's paving the way to a whole educated generation owing vast sums of money.

You looked into how much international students pay for tuition? You're getting a bargain compared to them!

savvystudent

sh1305 wrote: »

You looked into how much international students pay for tuition? You're getting a bargain compared to them!

Of course, but that's their choice. Soon bright British youngsters may start to be 'exported' to foreign universities as they start to become more appealing, both price and quality-wise.