The current higher education funding system in England is not sustainable.
Our current system of tuition fees has delivered real-terms cut to per student funding every year for almost a decade – with the £9,250 fee worth only £6,600 in 2012-13 prices.
Unless something changes, this decline in funding threatens to imperil the UK’s world-class reputation in higher education, the ability of our universities to continue to provide the outstanding teaching and support that is required to equip the next generation with the skills the UK need, and the progress that has been made in ensuring that access to higher education is on the basis of merit and the ability to benefit, regardless of background.
The current model does have a number of positive characteristics. The fact that university is free at the point of delivery, such that admission can be on merit, rather than ability to pay, is fundamental to a fair system – and repayments are relatively progressive, with the amount repaid per month linked to earnings.
