‘Massive hike in fees’ leads to record university tuition
'Massive hike in fees' leads to record university tuition
By Cassie Chambers
University fees will soon reach an all-time high, according to a report released today.
In 2013 the average tuition fee for university will break £8,500 for the first time, the University and College Union (UCU) revealed.
"When pushing higher fees through parliament ministers promised that fees above £6,000 would be the exception rather than rule," UCU's general secretary Sally Hunt said.
"Today's figures confirm our more accurate prediction that fees closer to the maximum of £9,000 a year would in fact be the norm."
The tuition figures, released as part of an agreement between universities and the Office for Fair Access, show students starting university in 2013 will pay almost £200 more than those starting in 2012.
"There's little pleasure in being right, especially as we saw a drop in student applications of almost ten per cent this year following the massive hike in fees," said Hunt.
"Decisions about what and where to study at university should be made based on an individual's academic ability, not how much a course costs."
The legislation to allow universities to raise fee caps was passed by parliament in 2010, despite vehement protests from student groups.
When the cap was raised from £3,290 to £9,000 in 2010, opponents argued that it would lead to a prohibitive increase in fees.
Average university fees have risen every year since the cap increase was implemented.
