Consequences of Changes to University Tuition Fees in England

by Alexa Wong, Global Paradigm Fellow in England

This week marks the final deadline for students to apply for university in the U.K., and application figures are noticeably lower than those of previous years. The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service reports that 7.6% fewer U.K. students have applied for university this year than in 2011. With tuition fees set to rise from £3,290 to a maximum of £9,000 for the upcoming autumn semester, the decrease in the number of applicants seeking higher education is no coincidence. Proponents of the increase argue that it ensures that university budgets are sustainable in the long term and less reliant upon state funds, particularly since the government cut funding toward higher education -- one of many areas affected by the Eurozone crisis.

At the same time, one cannot ignore the dismal fact that those who seek a university degree are discouraged from attending, or even prevented by, the rising costs. Thousands of students held several protests over the past year, demanding that such privatization be reversed. Financial aid rates aren't rising alongside the tuition increase; rather, financial assistance is being cut by nearly £14m. Even at present, financial aid for students appears nonexistent. From the perspective of my English flat-mate, scholarships are reserved for those who absolutely cannot afford it, leaving many students from working-class and lower middle-class families out of luck. Work-study arrangements are rare and insignificant. Thus, students face a lifetime of paying back student loans.

The decision for U.K. students on whether to attend university or not is further complicated by its binding nature. Applying as early as 16 years old, students must declare a course of study upon which their acceptance is based. Had my flat mate known when she applied two years ago that tuition was going to rise so significantly, she likely would have selected another university and type of degree. Not uncommonly, students who find that their initial course of study conflicts with their goals and strengths end up dropping out because it is not worth the cost.

Yet these issues do not capture the larger problem at hand. There is a growing, unprecedented gap between those who can afford university and those who cannot. My university is located in one of the historically poorest boroughs of London, and very few local students matriculate into it or any other institution of higher education. Most students here are non-Londoners. For local students, university is out of the question and will continue to be. For the British government, it is imperative that they consider the full application figures after this week and determine whether denying thousands more students the chance to receive a university degree will truly improve the state of their education system and ensure that the nation’s source of human capital is not dwindling. They must also determine whether they are willing to increase the class divide in exchange for the possibility of a more stable economy.