Today’s review into higher education funding by former BP boss Lord Browne recommends ‘abolishing the cap on tuition fees' - leaving universities free to charge what they want. Students will be forced to pay more with no guarantee of increased quality of teaching, and may have to make decisions about courses based on cost rather than academic ability or ambition. Quite simply, students will have to pay out more or else be priced out of higher education.
I urge every welfare officer in every union to make the case, to their University and Member of Parliament, that the Browne recommendations are foolish and unfair.
This proposed change to the funding system for higher education will increase levels of student debt increase the need for student support and compromise access to education.
Ben Whittaker
Vice President (Welfare)
What the Browne report says:
- A top line summary of all of the recommendations from the report can be read on the NUS Connect website here.
- To read the full report click here