Outrageous University fees.

[Oddgitt]

I can't believe how much they're wanting for University fees!

It's outragious, not to mention divisive, and I'm amazed students haven't been out on the rampage in protest.

 

If universities can set their own level of fees, soon some universities will be considered so inferior a degree from them will be worthless anyway.

 

My first bold - they have.

 

My second bold - don't you think this is already the case? Polytechnics are considered by some as inferior to universities, and Oxbridge is considered far superior to other universities (and it already costs more to study there anyhow, albeit mostly in living expenses).

 

I don't particularly have a problem with them raising the cost of fees - degrees should be 'special' and mark someone who has one out from the crowd.

 

Every man and his dog has got a degree nowadays - I truly feel that the value of a degree has been undermined by the amount of people going to university. I'm lucky I did engineering so, jobwise, I have been able to find and keep a job, and my career progression looks favourable. But too many people are going to uni 'for the experience' and picking up mickey mouse degree.

 

My main problem is the debt people may potentially be left in which I think is irresponsible.

 

I finished my bachelors with 15k of debt. in the time it took to earn over 15K (and start paying it back) the debt rose to 18K...'luckily' the recession hit and dropped the interest rate down, and I have managed to pay a chunk of it off, but it'll be another 10 years at least before the rest of it has gone.

 

As far as I can tell from what is reported they're raising the limit from 15k to 20k. It may take people years and years to be in a position where they have to pay it back, if ever. And all that time, their now increased level of debt will take longer to be repayable, take longer to pay back, and will hang over graduates heads for longer. And who knows what the interest rates are going to be in 5, 10 years time.

 

I think that is ridiculous and I wouldn't want my kids with 30k plus of debt that they'll be paying back for the rest of their lives - because believe me, if you do the sums that's what they'll be doing - paying off the itnerest for 50 years and funding the government.

[HeadingNorth]

I think that is ridiculous and I wouldn't want my kids with 30k plus of debt that they'll be paying back for the rest of their lives - because believe me, if you do the sums that's what they'll be doing - paying off the itnerest for 50 years and funding the government.

 

Don't you mean, funding their own degree? That's rather the point.

[Oddgitt]

Don't you mean, funding their own degree? That's rather the point.

 

It would be if all they had to do was pay back the capital, or a reasonable level of interest.

 

The level of fees and timescales are such that they're unlikely to pay it back much before they retire.

 

When i finally get it paid back it'll be a 2k-3k payrise.

 

I think they've not thought it through quite enough.

[andyofborg]

and I'm amazed students haven't been out on the rampage in protest.

 

 

they were, but people just thought it was the latest "carnage" event

[andyofborg]

This is also going to be the biggest stumbling block to social mobility in my lifetime.

 

 

the biggest stumbling block to social mobility was the abolition of grammar schools.

 

50 years of interference in the education system by politicians of all parties and abilities has ruined what was one of the best education systems in the world.

[Conrod]

This had to happen.

 

I think it is truly awful that students have to pay tuition fees or take out loans for living expenses. When I studied, the teaching was free and my grant paid for just enough beer to get me through the course.

 

Trouble is, when I was a student, and cars ran on steam, only those who were suited to an academic path were able to secure a university or polytechnic place - and the government could afford to cover the costs.

 

The socialist 'higher education rights for all' nonsense is responsible for this mess. If we kept things as they were, applying education only to those upon whom it would not be wasted, degrees would still be free.

 

If we must continue letting all and any academic under-achiever go to study some useless subject that will be of no value whatsoever to any employer, we end up punishing the students who are taking on vocational courses which will be of use to society and should be provided for free, as used to be the case.

[Conrod]

the biggest stumbling block to social mobility was the abolition of grammar schools.

Absolutely spot on.

[HeadingNorth]

It would be if all they had to do was pay back the capital, or a reasonable level of interest.

 

 

Actually, it's considerably lower than a reasonable rate of interest. The last time I checked it was less than half the market rate.

[andyofborg]

........only those who were suited to an academic path were able to secure a university or polytechnic place - and the government could afford to cover the costs.

 

unfortunately, there are few employment opportunities for those unsuited to an academic path.

 

the expansion of university education during the new labour regime was driven more by a desire to manipulate the youth unemployment figures than any ideological desire.

[Conrod]

unfortunately, there are few employment opportunities for those unsuited to an academic path.

True, but such people are little more employable when they come out of education with a weak degree in a weak subject.

 

the expansion of university education during the new labour regime was driven more by a desire to manipulate the youth unemployment figures than any ideological desire.

Perhaps a bit of both I think, though that was certainly a big driver.