Students face fees of up to £9,000

American students have it much worse, I personally know one, and his fees are far, far more than 9k a year! We've had it easy for the past few years (with the tax payer footing some of the costs), but everyone knew this was going to change, so I have no idea why people are so surprised. The cost of living has sky-rocketed, so why wouldn't education? Contrary to popular opinion, Uni is not an entitlement, and should not be treated as such.

It also depends greatly on what you are studying, as some courses are more expensive than others, plus the length of said course. At the end of the day, people are going to have to be more careful with what they choose, and make damned sure they get a job at the end of it! Then again, they should have been doing that to begin with, or there really is no point in being there in the first place.

Also, I find it pretty strange that many students complain about the costs, but will quite happily spend £100 or more on a night out getting boozed up. Surely if you can barely afford the fees, you shouldn't be throwing money around like this?

What are you studying?

Zenith wrote: Also, I find it pretty strange that many students complain about the costs, but will quite happily spend £100 or more on a night out getting boozed up. Surely if you can barely afford the fees, you shouldn't be throwing money around like this?

I can guarantee that over 90% or more of people in my halls here in London wouldn't even dream of spending anywhere near that much on a night out.

Contrary to popular opinion, Uni is not an entitlement, and should not be treated as such.

 

And in my view, that statement, despite the fact Hotty agreed with it, is negated by Hotty's response.

 

The very fact, that most employers now demand a degree [for decent jobs] means that a university education is now essential for most careers. So yes, probably not an entitlement, but damn well essential if you hope to get a decent job.

 

So maybe, the chance to study, the opportunity to better ones self educationally should be an entitlement...

 

And with the current proposals, the ridiculous fees that will be charged, that opportunity to better ones self will be taken away for many.

 

It will also adversely effect many universities. My son's university built two brand new buildings, to cope with the students they expected. Now, thanks to the Conservative proposals, they have been forced to sell off one of the buildings. My son't university are incensed with the Conservatives proposals.

Also, I find it pretty strange that many students complain about the costs, but will quite happily spend £100 or more on a night out getting boozed up. Surely if you can barely afford the fees, you shouldn't be throwing money around like this?

I hate it when people say this about students because this is all the media ever portray so that's the impression that people get.

I have 21 hours of lectures a week for my degree plus my dissertation work outside of teaching time, along with application for jobs and interviews. I certainly DO NOT spend £100 on a night out. If I can spare the time, I'll go out on a Friday and socailise with my friends, but don't get "boozed up" because it effectively writes off the following day.

Annually I pay £3200 for fees, £3500 for Accomodation plus everything I spend on things like food, travel and course material. This has been the same for 4 years. I'll leave university with a debt of about £30,000.

All the jobs that I am applying for require a degree but have a starting salary of between £20-26,000 pa. It'll take me years of my working live to pay that money back.

Imagine if I had £9000pa fees plus the cost of accommodation which rises annually with inflation, and still at the end of it have a starting salary of £20000.

University should be for the intellectually gifted

Harsh. I am not particuarly intellectually gifted, I passed my A-Levels (not with flying colours) but above average, but I go to university because I love the subject I'm taught and I want to persue it as a career, and I have developed ten fold in education terms since coming to university. Its given me a boost in my ability so you can't say you have to be intellectually gifted to go to university. With the right teaching and the right motivation and attitude anyone can do anything.

The very fact, that most employers now demand a degree [for decent jobs] means that a university education is now essential for most careers. So yes, probably not an entitlement, but damn well essential if you hope to get a decent job.

 
Completely agree with you Martin

nowadays you can get in with an E and 2 failures, or even less...

Let me assure you, you can't...

University should be for the intellectually gifted

No it shouldn't. Thats elitism.

Regarding people getting in with very low grades - there is a college at Cambridge (forget which) that will do matriculation offers of EE.

MartinW wrote: No it shouldn't. Thats elitism.

MartinW wrote: nowadays you can get in with an E and 2 failures, or even less... Sorry Hotty, but my daughter has just signed up with UCAS, and I'd say that's nonsense.

Not nonsense at all. Of course you can even go with non at-all, although you'll be spending a year getting up to speed first.

Depends what she wants to study.

 

Medicine, there's no point applying if you're less than AAB including Chemistry or Biology and even then about 3/4 get rejections from each application (remember you can choose up to 4 universities though, so it doesn't necessarily mean only 1/4 of medicine applicants get to university).

For vetiranary or dentistry courses it's even harder than that!