MSE News: Student tuition fees could treble by 2012

Former_MSE_Dan

This is the discussion thread for the following MSE News Story:

Read the full story:
Student tuition fees could treble by 2012

Arg

If people on benefits are scrounging then the university system is super scrounging.

Renya

Wow, obviously as a student I'm pretty angry about this, but I'm curious as to what these "exceptional circumstances" that would allow universities to charge full price would be.

I'm also confused about when these fees will come into force, I graduate in 2013 so would I have to pay higher fees during my final year or will I still be charged the capped rate? I've been told a bit of conflicting evidence on this.

musehead

I don't understand why university students think they're entitled to a degree that's massively subsidised by the taxpayer?

The new proposals seem fairer to me - students pay for a greater proportion of their tuition while safety nets and grants for poorer people ensure they are not priced out of the system.

lilacjaffa

What I'd like to know is how this affects adult leaners.
I work 2 jobs, both in schools, and would like to study for a degree to become a teacher. My husband and I earn too much to gain any financial help and as it stands adult learners cannot apply for student loans.
The increase in fees means that it is even harder for me to gain the qualifications I need.
How is this increase going to help anyone? Students will be forever in debt and for people like me, who want to re train, won't be able to.

glider3560

lilacjaffa wrote: »

as it stands adult learners cannot apply for student loans

Unless you are over 60, you can apply for the same loans as an 18 year old doing the same course.

Lokolo

musehead wrote: »

I don't understand why university students think they're entitled to a degree that's massively subsidised by the taxpayer?

The new proposals seem fairer to me - students pay for a greater proportion of their tuition while safety nets and grants for poorer people ensure they are not priced out of the system.

That was my point in the other discussion. Not everyone is capable of going to university and yet people have to pay taxes which goes towards the funding of it.

My brother pays his taxes yet will never likely go to university. Why should be subsidise my education?

divastrop

Lokolo wrote: »

That was my point in the other discussion. Not everyone is capable of going to university and yet people have to pay taxes which goes towards the funding of it.

My brother pays his taxes yet will never likely go to university. Why should be subsidise my education?

Why should people pay taxes to fund the NHS if they never get ill? Why should people pay taxes to fund the military if they themselves are pacifists? Why should people pay taxes to fund the education system as a whole if they don't, and never intend to, have children of their own?

I'm pretty sure it's because this is society and that is how it is run. Some individuals of course may agree with Thatcher and believe there is no such thing as society, but personally I think she was talking out of her rear end and I can't begin to imagine what would happen if this country became nothing more than a collection of individuals concerned only with their own interests.

BLT_2

Lokolo wrote: »

That was my point in the other discussion. Not everyone is capable of going to university and yet people have to pay taxes which goes towards the funding of it.

My brother pays his taxes yet will never likely go to university. Why should be subsidise my education?

I put my bin out for emptying 3 times a week, why should I subsidise your council tax because you go through more rubbish than I do. The fact is that this funding gives him the opportunity to go to University should he possess the brains.

Personally I believe that funding should be allocated in proportion to the usefulness of the degree to society, but that would get the Arts boys up in arms when you pointed out that a degree in ancient Greek was about as much use to society as a Ferrari Testorossa is to Stephen Hawkings.

And if artists of the ilk of Damien Hirst were state funded to learn how to pickle cows I give up :-) A quick trip the Tate Modern Art gallery will provide ample evidence of why Arts degrees should not be subsidised

BLT_2

As an aside perhaps degrees in politics should be priced at 3 times the standard rates if the intelligence of the ministers is anything to go by.

'This increase in fees offers a real opportunity for universities' - How the hell can it offer a real opportunity if people can't afford to attend.

My favourite line however was that the government faces opposition from Student Unions. What are they going to do, go a on pot strike for a week, or refuse to frequent the local pubs thereby impacting on the local economy. I doubt the government is going to crumble because the University students withhold their labour.

Oldernotwiser

lilacjaffa wrote: »

How is this increase going to help anyone? Students will be forever in debt and for people like me, who want to re train, won't be able to.

Does it matter if people are forever in debt if the debts are student loans? It'll be interesting to see what the situation will be about debts being wiped after a period of time under the new regime.