The Higher Education Policy Institute (www.hepi.ac.uk) has
published new research on students’ views of the higher education
funding system, At what cost? Students’ views on Augar,
funding and the cost of living (HEPI Policy Note
17).
The survey of over 1,000 full-time undergraduate students,
undertaken for HEPI by the polling company YouthSight, shows:
-
Students’ views are mixed between the current tuition fee model
and Augar’s recommendation to lower fees: 40% prefer the current
system of £9,250 paid back over 30 years; 41% prefer Augar’s
approach of £7,500 paid off over 40 years; and 18% have no
preference between the two.
- The
majority of students (79%) say the level of interest charged is
one of the most important aspects of the funding system, compared
to only 11% who say it is unimportant and 10% who are unsure.
-
Students are supportive of Augar’s recommendation to bring back
maintenance grants, with 53% of students advocating for a mixed
system of maintenance grants and loans and 32% saying they would
prefer grants only. Only 16% support the current maintenance
system in England, which is loan only.
- Cost
of living is a higher priority for students than tuition fees,
with 59% saying it is their top funding concern. For 18% tuition
fees are a more pressing issue, and 23% place them equally.
- Over
half (52%) of students’ parents contribute to their living costs,
while 46% of students’ parents do not.
- Of
the students whose parents contribute towards their living costs,
half (50%) receive more than £1,000 every year, 29% of students
receive between £500 and £1,000 and 21% receive less than £500.
- Many
students see living away from home as critical to their
university experience, with around half (49%) saying they would
still choose to live away from home even if this came at a
greater cost, compared to 38% who say they would choose to live
at home to save money. 13% are undecided.
- Over
half (57%) of students say living away from home was important to
them when they applied to university, compared to 28% who said it
was unimportant and 15% who are indifferent.
Rachel Hewitt, HEPI’s Director of Policy and Advocacy, said:
‘Many believe that in the current political environment the
eagerly anticipated Augar review is dead in the water. The
current minority Government lacks both the political sway and
desire to implement the report’s recommendations. Our polling
shows students are also split in their views on whether Augar
should be implemented. They find the recommendation of lowering
fees to £7,500 is no more appealing than the current system.
Instead students’ main priority is the money available for living
costs and ensuring the system operates fairly by reintroducing
maintenance grants for the poorest students.
‘With an election potentially around the corner, politicians
should take heed of students’ priorities. A winning offer to
students may not involve focusing on tuition fees but instead on
less headline-grabbing aspects, such as the maintenance system
and interest rates.’
Please find attached a copy of HEPI Policy Note
(17), At what cost? Students’ views on Augar, funding
and the cost of living.
For further information, please contact Rachel Hewitt,
HEPI Director of Policy & Advocacy,
email: r.hewitt@hepi.ac.uk;
mobile: 07841 017584.
Notes for Editors
- Wave 7
of the HEPI/YouthSight Monitor was answered by 1,078 full-time
undergraduate students and undertaken between the 16th August and
the 20th August 2019. Weights have been used to ensure the sample
is representative by age, gender and university type. The margin
of error is +/- 3.09%, based on a 95% confidence level.
-
Respondents received a £1 Bonus Bond gift voucher for answering
these questions and others on a different topic.
- The full results, including for questions not covered in this
press release, are available in a spreadsheet from HEPI.
- The Higher
Education Policy Institute was established in 2002 to shape the
higher education policy debate through evidence. It is the United
Kingdom’s only independent think tank devoted to higher
education. HEPI is a non-partisan charity funded in part by
organisations and universities that wish to see a vibrant higher
education debate.
