Certainly, students are paying more than enough, which I believe is well-established in the UK. Although the tuition has still been rising in the past few years, especially then for international students, as Rishi Sunak is trying to get rid of immigrants, and perhaps indebt all the home students as well. Just recently, he has lowered the threshold for paying back the student loans, making students repay it sooner and with less on their payslips.
So, the question arises, should universities be free instead?
I always wondered where all my tuition money actually goes.
Paying the tuition, however unfortunately, still has its benefits, as UK universities constantly rank amongst the highest in the world. And those for tuitions would argue that it provides better funds for universities, which can then be reinvested into world-class research.
And yet, I always wondered where all my tuition money actually goes. Especially, since my first year of university was intensely disrupted by strikes. If the professors aren’t getting paid enough, where does our money go then?
Some of the insanely high sum students pay does go to pay for staff salaries, then it provides access to libraries and other buildings. Yet, that is something many universities around the world provide for free.
Really, the only argument not to abolish tuition fees that stands its ground in my eyes is that it might put the country in even bigger debt.
Tuition seems to do only one thing well, which isn’t paying our professors properly as they were striking all last year but indebt students for years to come after they graduate. Moreover, the majority of students who take out loans to pay for their education, never pay off their debt anyway.
Really, the only argument not to abolish tuition fees that stands its ground in my eyes is that it might put the country in even bigger debt. Were the universities to be funded by the state, as is in many other countries, it would leave the government with even more spending on their bill. Most likely the money might need to be taken from another section to be reinvested into higher education. And with the cost-of-living crisis still raging on, I do not see that as a plausible future.
Still, paying thousands of pounds is a bit far-stretched, so maybe the government could go halfsies on it. Fair is fair, is it not?