So tuition fees are increasing. Will this change your DC’s thoughts on university

[user7654263]

It’s much needed for the sector but with tuition fees increasing and accommodation being eye wateringly expensive will this change your DCs view on university? It’s so expensive and the interest in student loans starts from day one so racks up really quickly.

I feel grateful to have gone in the days of grants but have one at university and one in year 13 and it’s really something you need to evaluate carefully to see whether it’s worth it.

I still suspect it won’t be enough to save the universities that are on the brink of collapse unfortunately.

@EasternStandard I believe everyone should get the grant.

at the end of the day most people won't pay it back. An incredibly inefficient system but it works well for graduates. I graduated 4 years ago and haven't paid back a penny

That's terrible as the rest of us taxpayers have to pay back these loans...

Surely it's not a good use of taxpayers money if the degrees end up leading to such low earnings?!

Sorry, take it up with the company I work for? I'm training to be a solicitor, it's hardly a wasted degree.

In continental Europe many students go their local University and continue living at home.
Saves a lot of money

we did this where I am from in Australia too.

No policy decision has been made, there's just speculation in the press.

Too late to reverse the massive staff redundancies.

This was always the case where I work, enter level jobs were usually filled by graduates when there really wasn't any need.

Now there are more apprenticeships for which you only need A levels which lead to progression up the rAnks. That'll be path I'll steer DD down, she isn't hugely academic so can't see her choosing a career she needs a specific degree for (architect and the like). I went to uni to avoid starting work for a few more years & have fun, I don't think I'll ever clear my debt as I don't earn enough and it was only £15.5k (probably more now!) I can't imagine having to.pay off £30k++++

The problem is we all got used to that period of government where the conservatives released all their policies via press leaks a few days in advance, so I feel a bit conditioned to thinking press reports will come good.

In the UK, not everyone has a 'local' uni. Even if they have, it might not be a good one and)or it may not do the course they want.
Even traditional subjects like history or geography are not available at all unis. When you get to the more niche subjects or those associated with modern technology, the choices are even smaller.

I think that’s the only way to be fair but I’m not sure how it could be afforded

@EasternStandard well the money that is currently used for the maintenance loan would be a good way to go about it?

Guess this will be formalised in the October budget: www.standard.co.uk/news/education/labour-government-tuition-fees-rise-inflation-keir-starmer-education-b1184730.html

But there would be no repayment for it so the gov would have to find other money for that shortfall?

Don't forget the systems are different in each part of the UK.
Scottish students have their fees paid at Scottish unis.
Welsh students have their maintenance costs covered by a mix of loan and grant depending on family income, but all get the same final amount (which is significantly more than English students on max loan get).

DD has just started Uni and the cost is eye watering, DS15 has heard the discussions and has said that he doesn't want to start his career with £60k plus of debt so may not go to Uni.
Its a shame as he will be the only one of us not to have been but I can see his point - me and Dh went when it was free AND we got grants and DD does need a degree for her career choice.
DS will be looking at other options such as Degree apprenticeships instead but these are very hard to secure and will become even harder I imagine

@EasternStandard the majority of student loans get written off anyway. It's basically the first thing they tell you when you're applying to uni - "it's called a loan but it's written off after X years"

Surely that would lead to fewer places being offered to UK students?

They still get some back, of course they do it’s not all written off, so someone will have to make up the shortfall

Should be fewer uni places and free tuition fees. Alternative and genuine training options for kids whose strengths are not academic strengths.

@EasternStandard windfall taxes on energy companies? Taxing billionaires? The money is there.

I do agree that there should be less degrees on offer. Someone I know went to uni to study art, is now a receptionist and will never pay back the loan. What's the point in that? That sort of degree is useless

Has she told you that herself then? Or are you just being sneery?

@westisbest1982 she's told me. She's proud of the fact.

It's not sneery to say there are too many degrees on offer and too many people going to university.

We already have windfall taxes on every companies plus higher CT already

Reeves has rowed back on nom dom it seems the money isn’t always there, they worked out they’d leave