My DS is currently applying for next year. Of course, I don’t want to see tuition fees increase but I can’t see how they can’t.
If tuition fees had increased in line with inflation since the £9,000 fee set in 2010, we would now be looking at £14,000 per year.
I think it is likely, perhaps inevitable, that over the next 10-15 years, some unis will merge. Some will streamline their degree offerings. Some will close.
The birth rate has been declining since 2010. Those babies are in Years 11 and below. Yes, this year we saw an increase in 18 year olds head to uni. That will continue for the next year or so and will then drop. And keep dropping.
The low birth rate from 2017 is driving the closure of primary schools. Naturally, this will follow through into secondary schools and unis. Combine that with a drop in international students and migrants being allowed to bring their dependent children with them, and we have the perfect storm heading towards schools and then unis.
I think we will see an increase in 2 year degrees as suggested by a PP. That could target the mature student who simply can’t take 3 years out to go to uni. Mature student numbers will be very interesting to track.
So an increase in tuition fees may well be inevitable no matter what type of government we have in place.
Edited to add: The 2 child benefits limit will also need to be lifted/ revised in order to increase the birth rate.