Costs

This article reveals: “A  last-minute dash by universities to charge the maximum £9,000 annual fee for next year has prompted expectations that more than 30,000 student places will be axed.

“Two-thirds of English universities have now opted for the maximum charge for all courses – which ministers previously claimed would be only the “exception”.

“Ministers said they would have to impose cuts in student numbers if the average fee is more than £7,500 because they will not be able to afford the loans. It is likely to be more than £8,500 and the Treasury will have to foot all the extra cost up front.”

It is a classic example of unintended consequences where more money raised by Universities will lead to fewer places in HE on offer to students.

There is a significant rural component to this story both in terms of access to HE for poorer rural families and the impact of changed financial priorities for rurally based HE institutions. Neither of which I fear will have a positive content.