dissertation on tuition fees..anyone any opinions?

mrsg26

Im not sure if I should be posting this here or not but thought Id try. Im currently in my Honours year in Scotland and doing my Dissertation. It relates to the recent policies on tuition fees and whether it will limit participation from the lowest socio economic groups. The people I am currently interviewing are all based in Scotland so as yet they are not directly influenced by the £9000 tuition fees. I was just wondering if anyone would like to comment . ie do you feel the fees are fair and will still encourage people from all class backgrounds or do you feel that there is a fear of debt that would probably put people off. The answers wont be used in any way I am just looking for a different perspective as I know a lot of English students frequent this site. Thanks.

devildog

I personally don't think it would/should impact on those from the lowest economic groups as I think enough provision has been made for them however I do think it could have an impact on those from low middle earner groups.
As to the students themselves and what they think,from ones I have spoken to, I think it is a mixed bag. Some are horrified at the level of debt and others are far more pragmatic about it.

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver

Low Income Groups discouraged because of Uni Fees no matter what the tories say.

Lokolo

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver wrote: »

Low Income Groups discouraged because of Uni Fees no matter what the tories say.

No. Those that are stupid are discoraged because all they do is look at the headline debt which, on the grand scheme of things has very little to do with the amount paid back.

The thing people should be looking at are the repayment terms, as these are the biggest factors when looking at the student loan debt.n

mrsg26

Thanks for replying I didn't think I would get any responses..it's appreciated.

melancholly

it's also worth searching the forum - there are plenty of threads on this with lots and lots of comments! it's also worth looking at published research and the opinions of think tanks plus the many published surveys of future students. i bet the comments on Martin's various blogs on this would be full of info too.

Taiko

As Lokolo stated, the main problem is people see the headline figure, and people opposed to it only quote that headline figure.

The loans are available to any first time applicant, and so there is no reason why those from lower socio-economic backgrounds cannot attend. Unfortunately, it's people with vested interests trying to convince them they cannot.

Derivative

The issue is complex primarily because people are not rational as posters above seemingly rely on.

It is true that low income students are no more disadvantaged than anyone else under the new scheme.

Lower income students receive more in non-repayable grants and bursaries than do anyone else. Under the new system, at my University they get even more than before.

In addition those earning less after University will be better off. And there is probably a fairly good correlation between household income and post-graduation earnings, so in that sense it's another boost.

But the issue is not whether or not those in lower income groups are better or worse off as a result of the changes.

It's about whether or not they are discouraged. People are not robotic and do not function as perfect rational agents. People aren't lawyers - it takes discipline to read a set of terms and conditions and actually trust the content within. It takes effort to run through the calculations (or faith to trust others' calculations) and see how you will be effected.

It's a lot easier to look at the headline figures and think - sod that, I'm better off working.