Would-be students deterred by rise in fees

An Oxford College professor has declared that student’s have been scared off by the sharp rise in tuition fees which will come into force this year. Sarah Spencer, academic director of the distance learning centre, Oxford College, said that there has been “a sudden, and severe, drop in applications.”

Application’s from UK students to have dropped by 8.7% this year, with applications to English universities down by 9.9%. Overall there has been a decline of 7.4% in applications to British universities, although there has been a 13.7% increase in the number of students applying from outside the EU, indicating that for those who are not affected by the rise in tuition, UK universities are still a very attractive option. These figures do not take into account last years rise in applications as students hurried to take their places before the fee increase, however they still indicate that many potential students have been deterred.

Despite the government’s reassurance that the threshold for loan repayments has increased, meaning that graduates will not have to worry about paying their tuition as soon as current students, the thought of the magnitude of the loans is still too much for some.

Mary Davies had been interested in attending university however it is no longer an option for her. She said: “I wanted to continue into higher education but it’s just not possible with these higher fees.”

Sarah Spencer explained why the higher fees are causing such a deterrence for students: “It's years since getting a degree was any sort of guarantee of getting a good job. Now university fees are so high that a three-year degree course is increasingly looking like an expensive gamble.”

However the decline in students seeking to further themselves through academics is not seen by all as a bad thing. Sarah Spencer said: “We have seen a steep increase in vocational courses like BTEC Higher National Diplomas. Many calculate that these sorts of applied courses will give them faster and more cost-effective access to the relevant skills that will improve their job prospects.”

Rachael Clarke is one example of a student who has altered her path as a result of the tuition increase. Although she originally planned to attend university, the steep fees have encouraged her to look elsewhere and she has now decided that she “will train in catering school and go on to be a chef.”