Joe, Hereford
I am a nursing student, so we get paid by the NHS to do the course. Why can`t the government do a similar thing to all students? If you pay one group of students, why not pay all?
Jane, Beverley
The government should not manage university overcrowding by penalising the poor. It will create a victorian style class system of the "haves and have nots". The way to do it is to make A-Levels more difficult. Some universities allow students in with only one a-level point: how can such a degree possibly have any academic merit? I am a recruitment consultant, and many businesses I work with now pick graduates, not on their results, but on the reputation of the university.
Martin, Hull
The UK government's financing method is truly frightening. I graduated two years ago, and have left with an Β£8,000 debt for a four year course; my little sister is looking at nearly twice that amount! Added to that, we all have to deal with the bumbling, largely ineffective quango that is the Student Loans Company. Rather than lumping the debt on the students, why not implement an attractive national student sponsorship scheme, open to all employers. This way, the students get educated, with the guarantee of a job, and (most importantly) will have received a degree that is relevant to the modern workplace. I think universities should be a lot more accountable to employers' needs to ensure degrees are tailored to what the UK workplace demands, including (for example): budgeting, contact building, basic business IT (including website maintenance), interviewing techniques and effective data analysis. All the above would make students a lot more employable!
laura, worcester
If top up fees are introduced then I would have to drop out of uni, basically because I could not afford it. The government want more people to go to uni but how can we afford to with the idea of tutition fees and student loans? My loan at the momment just covers me for the term therefore year but this is only buying the basics and not going out for the majority of the weeks. I am on a teching course which involves placement. Where as other students on courses with placements get paid, such as water sport and management, nursing, etc we do not. This then results in having to pay for trnasport and also working till late and getting up early so we do not have a social life and for what, experience!!!!
katie, cardiff
if you introduce top up fees people will simply not be able to afford university and will not go because of the worry and large debt that they will be left with at the end of their course. at the moment there are too many graduates but soon there will be too few. i am studying english at cardiff uni and will probably go on to teaching, an area which already is struggling, particularly science and maths. how are you ever going to fill teaching postitions in schools, colleges and universities if there are no students to fill them? the future is going to be a mass of problems, those who go to university will be saddled with debts for the best part of their working life, and the economy and tertiary industry will suffer because there are not enough graduates to fill posts. the government needs to re-think its plans.
Denise, Londonderry
I am a present A level student. If you encourage young people to go to university then who is going to to jobs like labouring, bin men/women, policing, firemen/women etc. Jobs that do not require a degree but are just as important to our societies if not more important? You can't just raise fees for universities! If the universities didn't have students then what would they do? If you ask me you are not looking at every angle!!
J Gould, Droitwich
The current tuition fees are already too high. I have had to take out student loans to cover the cost of tuition fees. There many people who want to go to university, but cannot afford the fees. Financial assistance is not available to all students, like myself. I personally would welcome a reduction in tuition fees. The system is very unfair. I have 3 children, one I have to pay child care for. I have to say that with higher fees, I probably would not be able to continue with my teacher training course. The government is crying out for more science teachers, but do not seem to be interested in helping students to fund their education!
Sarah Hereford
I think tuition fees should be cut dramatically, as otherwise no one will want to go to uni and they will loose out in the long run. There will be massive debts.
matt worcester
im off to uni in october down in portsmouth. dont go for 6 months and already im working all the hours god sends to support myself down there. i think the government should waste less cash on mindless ideas (millenium dome anyone?)and encourage the youth of this nation to become educated.
Hazel - Malvern
What a farce - students are going to be saddled with even more debt than ever. Its OK for the privilaged kids of overpaid MPs, but what about the rest of us?
