It's been about three weeks since the government announced their intent to deregulate tuition.
[i]snip ...[/i]That said, tripling tuition overnight ...
Unfortunately that's not what they did. A lot of misinformation and half-truths have been spread by the NUS, Socialist Workers, etc. Yearly tuition fees are currently £3000. As I understand it, the Government allowed universities to lift the current legal cap on fees and allow universities to charge up to £6000 if they so choose. In exceptional circumstances, a very small number of universities will be allowed to charge up to £9000. Of course, all you hear from the NUS, etc is "No Raise Of Fees to £9000!" The other matter that keeps getting left out is that not one student will have to pay any of these fees until after they graduate and start earning a salary above the national average wage. Even then, the repayments will be via a 'graduate tax' on their salary. They won't have to suddenly start paying back lump sums, and if they stop earning above the national average wage, the graduate tax is put on hold. No one's going to be prevented from going to university because they can't afford the tuition fees.