- Question
Should university be free?
Should higher education be free to attend? This entry maps the debate, setting out positions that fees should remain, that maintenance loans should rise instead, that funding should target STEM subjects, and that university should be free for all.
No, University fees should remain the same
This position holds that university fees should remain as they are. It argues that free degrees would flood an already saturated graduate market and devalue the credential, that university is a costly premium product its beneficiary should pay for, and that it is a privilege, not a universal right.
Tuition fees should be the same but maintenance loans should be increased
This position holds that tuition fees should stay the same while maintenance loans rise. It argues that tuition, repaid only once a graduate earns above a threshold, barely affects affordability, while maintenance support determines whether a student can cover living costs without part-time work.
- Tuition fees don't have to be repaid until over the threshold so don't have much affect on debt and/or ability to go to uni
- Those who have to work part time to fund university have less time to focus on their studies, which puts them at a disadvantage compared to students who do not have to work
- The amount of maintenance loan you recieve determines whether you can afford to live at university
Funding should be increased for STEM subjects
This position holds that public funding should be increased specifically for STEM subjects. It argues that reducing or removing the cost of science, technology, engineering and maths degrees would widen access to these essential careers for capable students who might otherwise be priced out.
Yes, University should be free to attend
This position holds that university should be free to attend. It argues that free access would let talent, not family wealth, decide who gets a degree, boosting social mobility, and that with degrees now an effective job requirement, charging heavily for them can no longer be justified.