As part of a research project funded by the Nuffield Foundation ahead of the next general election, London Economics have undertaken a range of in-depth analyses in relation to higher education fees and funding arrangements across the four parts of the United Kingdom. The Higher Education Policy Institute (www.hepi.ac.uk) is working with London Economics and the Nuffield Foundation to publicise the results, including on a series of discussion events around the UK (more details below).
Disagreement over how higher education is funded has resulted in significant political tensions across the UK since the 1990s. Most major political parties have made significant manifesto commitments at successive elections or following unsuccessful electoral campaigns. This year looks set to be no different.
There is a widespread lack of understanding of higher education funding systems. As a result, many election pledges or post-election system amendments have been poorly thought through, and there have been significant unintended and adverse impacts on different groups of students and graduates.
Higher education is a devolved matter. As a result, there are fundamental differences between the four home nations in their approaches to funding higher education institutions (HEIs) and students. Given these differences, the unit of resource available to institutions, the overall costs to the Exchequer, students’ debt on graduation and graduate loan repayments and the balance of contribution between the Exchequer and students/graduates all vary markedly across the home nations.
