Students have reacted angrily to the Browne Report's recommendation to empower universities to charge unlimited tuition fees.
Lord Browne's review of Higher Education Funding recommends a removal of the tuition fee cap with a levy on any university charging more than £6,000.
There have been claims universities will charge around £7,000 a year for tuition, with some asking for more, but in a snap poll on graduate recruitment website Milkround.com 86 percent of students said degrees are not worth £7,000 a year on tuition fees.
More than 700 students and graduates voted in the poll, with many feeling the need to comment on the issue.
Jamille S: I believe we should pay, but to pay fees of £7,000 will ensure a greater polarisation between the wealthy and poor.
James L: The main concern now is whether bright students would opt to go to lesser universities instead of the top Red Brick ones based on price. This would in the long run weaken our economy with the students with good potential not being able to realise it.
Jonathan D: I just hope it will enable some universities to improve and provide the service you would expect.
Mark W: The problem is quite simple: we have too many going to University. With that in mind fees will inevitably increase. And for what?
Joe S: I'm still paying off debts accrued nearly 10 years ago. If I expected to pay the figures being suggested I would seriously consider my options. To suggest that it's not going to dissuade individuals from pursuing a university education is laughable.
Milkround.com spokesperson Mike Barnard said: “The debate about tuition fees looks set to rage on with great scrutiny from parents and prospective students keen to understand what they will have to pay – and why. It seems inevitable that tuition fees will rise and student debt will increase. The conundrum is how to reconcile that debt on graduation. Since tuition fees were introduced, graduates have been increasingly frustrated with debt repayment draining their earnings. It’s hard for them to stay positive.
“However, the increase in tuition fees may force students to really focus on their careers while studying at university to get the best value from their education and ensure they find the job they deserve. This would go a long way to maximizing their earnings, but in the current job climate universities and politicians have to understand that the prospect of finding work with student debt any higher than it is now is going to be met with a backlash from those footing the bills now and in the future.”
