A rise in tuition fees might just be exactly what this country needs

Much to the anger of student organisations across the country and the shame of red-faced Liberal Democrats, university tuition fees have gone up. For an English student applying for higher education this year the average tuition fee is £8,527. On the surface of it this sounds like a crime: denying education to those in our society who are unable to afford it. However, according to UCAS figures, the proportional fall in applications is similar across social backgrounds.

This revelation leads to the shocking, unthinkable suggestion that a rise in tuition fees might just be exactly what this country needs.

Before the rise in tuition fees, people were going to university who should, quite simply, not have been doing so. Instead of applying for work experience or apprenticeships in a chosen career they were choosing to study pointless courses vaguely associated with that field so that they could have both a degree and three years of partying under their belt.

These courses, a halfway point between traditional vocational courses and old-fashioned subject degrees, have been introduced by increasing numbers of universities in order to provide more opportunities for people to go on to higher education so that everyone feels like they have an equal chance at life.

So essentially, as increasing numbers of people were encouraged to go to university regardless of the degree they would study, it became, not a way of developing oneself in a certain branch of academia before stepping out onto the career-ladder as a more intelligent and rounded person, but something to do because everyone was doing it and you could finish with a course that ‘sort of had maybe some practical application to loads of different career paths’.

As someone who studies Latin and Classical Greek, the question of ‘what the hell are you going to do with that’ is often leveled at me. Now, on a practical level my subject has its uses, such as forming the basis of a career in teaching or research, or (at its most basic) it is just really useful with crosswords and Scrabble. The point that people tend to miss is that the study of Classics is what university used to be about and should still be about today: a rigorous training and stretching of the mind that gives you the ability to apply yourself to whatever career you choose to pursue. Not a half-arsed course for which you attend at most a lecture a week and that leaves you with a degree that no one really knows what it is.

Crucially, a rise in tuition fees, as UCAS’ figures have shown, does not impact harder on those who are financially worse off. In fact there has been a sharper fall in applicants from wealthier backgrounds than poorer. Admittedly, this is in part due to the fact that some families are only just above the income marker that distinguishes those who are eligible for support and those who are not. However, universities do have financial scholarships and support systems for those who are exceptional and deserve a university place but struggle with financial problems. As a result the people who should be going to university can go, as long as they have the motivation to ask for help and make it happen.

So, instead of a fee rise disadvantaging people depending on their financial status, it creates the academic elitist environment that boat race swimmer Trenton Oldfield so ridiculously protests about, but that is so crucial to the advancement of this country.

The reality of life is that some people are clever and suited to a university education and some people are not. Those who are should be directed towards higher education while those who aren’t should go into apprenticeships or start work experience to form practical skills to start themselves on the career ladder – not wasting three years and thousands of pounds on a degree that in reality offers no actual benefit. The fee rises may just help this come about.

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• http://twitter.com/snuffbear Snuff Bear

  I so agree but the human condition does engender many examples of alternatives especially i business.

  Bill Gates Warren Buffet and many who have provided a viable alternative should there be no financial resources available.

  What UK needs above anything else is INSPIRATIONAL people we could all rise to and aspire too. This is very sadly lacking today

• Halfassedmonkeyboy

  It is possible to be clever and not suited to a university education. The Idea that all people who do not have a university degree are not clever is a nonsense.

• julianzzz

  I agree with you totally that saddling students with excessive debt is wrong!

  As for the issue of much modern art being “tripe”, there are many areas of knowledge and enterprise that people regard as tripe! However just because something is not immediately understandable doesn’t mean that it is without meaning! I’ve spent sometime reading books on modern physics and finally I understand that Stephen Hawking’s genius goes beyond surviving a horrible illness and using a voice box! New Scientist this week has an article on abstract art this week which provides interesting evidence on the the brain’s response to art! Of course the ridiculous prices paid for art are a disgrace, but this is due to excessive concentrations of wealth and speculation, the same argument could be applied to the hedious cost of rare stamps, London houses or race horses! We live in a vibrant visual culture, our creative industries are sought the world over and modern art practice lies at the heart of this industry. Art like education pays for itself and enriches the lives of it’s practitioners and enthusiasts! Cutting oneself off from an obvious source of joy for many is merely sad, although perhaps understandable for someone who wishes to concentrate solely on one area of life!

• http://twitter.com/andyt267 andy taylor

  Idiot.

• Popstar2012

  Actually it matters less and less what or how people study, as apart from the traditional applied science stalwarts like medicine and engineering, THE JOBS ARE NO LONGER THERE….

  The trains are built abroad, the chocolate factory was sold, transport is ‘one man operated’ ticket machines replace the office, in Argos last week I was served by a computer screen, the infrastructure of our civilization, education, health, libraries etc is being dismantled..
  The investment money is being sucked out of the country and dumped off-shore by the giant free market fiscal vacuum cleaner.

  It makes little difference how many ‘feckless’ unemployed are forced into spurious ‘workfare’ schemes, because THE JOBS ARE NO LONGER THERE..

  And thus far, no politicians have dared address this.

• http://twitter.com/snuffbear Snuff Bear

  I hope your last sentence was not referring to me. Although I agree with your reply mostly you have to admit that most art is bought for its sensational value which for a classical composer ex banker ex financial Adviser ex computer company director Ballet academy exec Record company owner and computer EXCEL programmer I think I may be quite varied in my outlook. My tastes are in the romantic composers playing clarinet flute piccolo piano and organ, derivative trader and currency specialist. I helped run 2 orchestras taught private wind instrument pupils with great success. Written and published 15 symphonies and very much enjoyed taking on the USA healthcare industry and winning without resorting to lawyers. Travelled the world and seen many wonderful sights.

  BUT

  without exception the current trend towards the arts leaves me gasping for air. The Old Masters the brilliant compositions and colours the SIZE everything about say Canaletto Rubens Monet Manet far out way the peculiar public’s desire for Picasso and Kandinsky which I feel is only required as a passport to high priced stuffiness.

  As far as Mr Hawking is concerned his contribution to mathematics physics and science is immeasurable and far outways to the casual observer his apparent physical limitations.

• julianzzz

  Oh I suspect that you would find a lot worse than Picasso or Kandinsky, equivalent to early jazz historically and conceptually. There are criteria other than composition, colour and size! The recent exhibition by David Hockney featured very, very, large works with amazing colours and composition informed by art historical sources, as did the recent retrospective of Gilbert & George but I was moved more by a small grey piece on 9/11 by Gerhard Richter at Tate Modern this spring!

• Zane Brown

  Wow Sue what university did you go to? I’ve just left university recently and I’ve never seen people throw paper aeroplanes around the lecture theatre or witness a lecture in which students talked,over the lecturer, while the lecture was taking place.

  Also I’d have to disagree with you wanting to bring back the BBB entry requirements just because I know you could leave college with not the best A levels and still go on to university and come out with a 2:1 at the end if you worked hard enough. I know because I’ve just recently done that!