Free university education,1 good reason?

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drawboy

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Why should graduates get their education free? I know this will be controversial,but Why should they not contribute to an education that will earn them more than the average wage. They have had free education until 18 same as everybody else. Why do they have a right to a further 3 years of education free of charge. This is not the 18Th century when Major fitz-simminton-smyth's offspring have the god given right to go to Ox-bridge to keep the family name going. Most (not all) uni students are not doing any degree worth a toss. Most uni courses are pure drivell.
 
Blinkered view imo.

Don't underestimate the need for making sure the brightest peoples talents in the UK are not wasted. If students have to pay for the whole 3 or 4 year course then too many will not take up the places as they can't afford it.

If you take up a trade apprenticeship you are paid something even though you're not worth much until you're time served. Apprenticves do not fund all their training themselves.

Many employers pay trainees while they are learning the ropes.

If you train in HM Armed Forces you are paid while you train.

Higher education should be funded especially for those form poorer backgrounds.

Ultimately if we do not utilise and then lose our brightest minds the country suffers long term.

I do agree that there are far too many meaningless University courses and places nowadays though.

Meaningless target oriented nonsense dreamed up by Tony Blair.
 
depends on the degree. there are some that are of considerable value to society (doctors) and others that we, as a country, desperately need people to be studying (engineering, sciences). those we should support.
there are equally a good few (too many) that are of benefit only to themselves or that will allow them to earn well above the norm. those should pay.

(I have to declare an interest here, my daughters reading psychology then going on to do speech therapy for her masters. I think that's in the 'benefit to society' category.)
 
Nobody, absolutely nobody, not a single person, has to pay a single penny until they got a reasonable paying job.

If potential students don't do the degree because of the fees structure then they are either a) planning on doing a pointless degree which won't get them a good job, or b) too thick to understand the way the repayment scheme works, either way I'm glad they're not going to uni and will have to think again
 
aye paying back my student loan is a right kick in the teeth every month, £75 this month grrrrr

although I needed the money more at the time than I miss the payments now
 
So that they can afford to be the first time buyers of tomorrow. 1 in 5 new graduates currently unemployed, it made more sense to reduce the number of kids going to Uni and keep the fees reasonable.
 
well if the brainy ones get free college why do people moan about people claming job seekers obviously they arnt bright enough to go to college or uni
 
So graduates earn more money, then.

If only we had a progressive tax system which takes more tax and NI off people who earn more money. That would fix things.

Oh, wait a sec .........
 
Get everyone claiming JSA that can work to keep the country clean and tidy and earn their dole.

They can also grit the rouads, maybe then they'll get a job and stop sponging. Mayn gettting JSA have been getting if for years, put a cap of 2 years on it. Also stop giving herion addicts and alcoholics sickness benefits, and dont treat them on the NHS if they relapse. Must save a few million a month.
 
University numbers have never been higher - the government simply can't afford to fund all the places. Conversely, there is a lack of quality graduates in fields such as medicine, and the sciences. Therefore there must be a significant number of graduates doing non-worthwhile courses - why should the tax burden increase to fund those?

Instead of all courses being free, or even all being self-funded, I'd much prefer a system whereby vital courses such as medicine, nursing etc are funded by the state for the brightest people, with a minimum employment term at the end eg 7 years NHS service or you have to pay the cost of the course back (much like the army does through its OTC programme). If you want to do anything else, then put your own hand in your pocket. If its not earnings enhancing, then people won't bother, and perhaps the country wouldn't have such a skills shortage.
 
Free university education, 1 good reason....

So people from poorer backgrounds get the same opportunity to try and make a better life for themselves.

And how does zero fees up front, zero fees when you're studying, and zero repayments until you're earning 21k stop anyone, from any background going to university ?
 
Free university education, 1 good reason....

So people from poorer backgrounds get the same opportunity to try and make a better life for themselves.

And how does zero fees up front, zero fees when you're studying, and zero repayments until you're earning 21k stop anyone, from any background going to university ?

I didnt live at home when at uni, I didnt get my meals cooked or my bills paid. I had to get a part time job in a pizza joint thur -sun 11pm-4am then got bar work to pay my way. If I had to pay for my fees aswell I would not have been able to afford to go as my family couldnt afford to pay for it either..
 
You won't have to pay your fees now either, you don't pay back anything until you're earning 21k so why does it make any difference what background you're from ?
 
You won't have to pay your fees now either, you don't pay back anything until you're earning 21k so why does it make any difference what background you're from ?

It just shows how thick these so called students are if they can't work that out for themselves. :D
 
As a current prospective student at the moment, I do kind of agree with you!

I do think degrees should be worth more.

The only thing I disagree with at the moment is that I am applying to Scottish Unis, but I am from England. I will be paying whilst most of my fellow students (if I get in!) won't. This is only going to get worse next year too!

If you live in England potentially you could be paying £9,000.
If you live in Wales, it will stay at around £3,000.
If you live in Scotland, £0!

Where is the fairness in that!!!???

I do think that on the whole fees should have gone up, but £9,000 is a lot! I think if the fees rise had been up to £4,500-£5,000, there would have been a lot less "trouble".

Finally, I pose this scenario…

I am applying to read Medicine, I know that if I qualify I will almost certainly have a job, (usually 95% employment rate), but if I weren't to get in this time, I could be looking at £45,000-£60,000 of debt just on tuition fees alone! Even with an almost guaranteed high paid job that is a very scary proposition for anybody, let alone an 18 year with not much of their own money at all!

Obviously, I could get a job whilst studying, but that in itself is getting harder (as experience is needed, and some unis won't let or "actively discourage" it in order to concentrate on studies) and unlike some degrees I will not have much spare time as it is and I need to be working as hard as possible really!

So, can you see where some of us are coming from?

I understand that people are cross that students are taking it a bit too far, but I would argue it is only 1% who are causing trouble, and the rest are just trying to stick up for themselves, is that such a crime??
 
Why should graduates get their education free? I know this will be controversial,but Why should they not contribute to an education that will earn them more than the average wage. They have had free education until 18 same as everybody else. Why do they have a right to a further 3 years of education free of charge. This is not the 18Th century when Major fitz-simminton-smyth's offspring have the god given right to go to Ox-bridge to keep the family name going. Most (not all) uni students are not doing any degree worth a toss. Most uni courses are pure drivell.

Agreed!!! :)
 
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