Top-up fees will deter students, survey reveals

Top-up fees will deter students, survey reveals

Nearly 50% of A-level students would think twice about going on to higher education once the government introduces university top-up fees, it emerged last night.

Ministers have repeatedly insisted that the new funding arrangements, which will include charges of up to £3,000, will not deter candidates - even those from poorer backgrounds.

But a survey by NatWest bank revealed that 49% of sixth formers said they would be "less inclined" to go on to higher education when the charges are introduced.

Last night opposition MPs said the findings were a blow to the government's plans, and warned that university applications would drop off after the introduction of fees in September next year.

"This survey gives the first glimpse at the massive negative impact of fees," said the Liberal Democrat education spokesman, Ed Davey. "There's a real danger that we could see university applications falling next year for the first time for years."

However, the government remained adamant that the system would benefit students and their families.

The higher education minister, Bill Rammell, said: "Under the new arrangements students will study first and pay back when they are earning. They will only pay back 9% of their earnings above £15,000 a year, and I am committed to making sure that any person with the ability to go to university has the opportunity to do so."

As part of the measures the government will introduce a student.....continued below

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grant of up to £2,700 for the poorest students, while universities have increased bursaries.

Yesterday's survey, which was based on interviews with 1,000 sixth formers, 1,400 students and 1,000 graduates, found that financial pressure remained the overriding concern. Potential students estimated that they would spend an average of £28,600 on fees, rent and maintenance over three years, anticipating a final debt of around £13,000.

The study found that 39% of students had a part-time job, despite widespread concern that the work was affecting their studies. It also revealed that more parents were helping their children through university, with almost a third giving regular money and a quarter of students getting financial support from home "as and when they needed it".

Nearly two-thirds of students admitted to being concerned about the amount of debt that they were in, with 29% having considered abandoning their course to pursue a full-time job.

For students entering university this summer, the biggest concern was the fear of financial difficulty. Three-quarters of those asked put concerns about cash at the top of the list, compared with 65% who cited academic challenges.

Meanwhile, the Tory party criticised the government after it emerged that ministers were planning to spend £50m on maintenance grants and interest-free loans for EU students.

Stephen O'Brien, the Tory higher education spokesman, said the figures showed that the government was favouring EU students, many of whom may not pay back the loan.

"Surely the government's priority should be to bend over backwards to help UK students first rather than trusting to luck whether EU students will play fair in repaying all their student loans," he said.