Protests in London.

Anyone following it all?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/blog/2010/nov/10/demo-2010-student-protests-live

Students are protesting in Dublin too due to a proposed fee hike. The one they had the other day turned violent because some IRA groups got involved. I have to say though, on the whole I don't really feel bad for the students. But, I think it's hard for an American with hefty student loans to sympathize. 

I should also point out that the students in Dublin protested last year because they were cutting the budget for books and reducing the opening hours of the library, but they're protesting this year because they don't want to pay increased fees. Right, something has to give.

I agree it's hard to overly sympathize given our American experience. But it does seem the the coalition government's plan - supposedly hiking fees to 9000 GBP (sorry, on a US keyboard here at work) when they are currently just under 4000 GBP sounds pretty harsh. Plus, there isn't the US system of scholarships and grants - or certainly not the level we have. I don't know all the details, though. Gonna have to read up a bit on it later. It's always in the back of my mind that one day I might go back to the UK or my kids might want to study there.

Students are protesting in Dublin too due to a proposed fee hike. The one they had the other day turned violent because some IRA groups got involved. I have to say though, on the whole I don't really feel bad for the students. But, I think it's hard for an American with hefty student loans to sympathize.  

While I do agree with you to a certain extent Bmore_2_UK, but what they're talking about tripling tuition costs from £3000 to £9000. Keep in mind that these are students who already complain about paying £3K per year and I believe that they are adding interest to student loans whereas before I think they were all zero percent interest. I always thought that paying £3K per year was nothing to complain about, as well.

Now, as an American who paid about £9K for one (only) semester of my private Uni in Washington D.C., $14K per year or £9K is still cheaper to me than most schools in the USA. However, tuition fees in the UK only date a few years ago, back to Blair. So if I were a student who grew up expecting free uni, then was expected to pay £3K per year, then was suddenly expected to pay £9K per year, I would definitely be upset.

I have loads of friends who are attending the Demo and I hope they're doing alright.

x-posted with balmerhon

One wonders about the effects the fees jump will have overall.  Fewer people able to attend university and probably unable to get jobs.  Fewer students at unis and colleges would mean fewer lecturers needed, so more of them looking for jobs as well. Not to mention support staff.

One wonders about the effects the fees jump will have overall.  Fewer people able to attend university and probably unable to get jobs.  Fewer students at unis and colleges would mean fewer lecturers needed, so more of them looking for jobs as well. Not to mention support staff.

From what I've read, lecturers are protesting, too.

From what I've read, lecturers are protesting, too.

Have heard rumblings. Good job DH took early retirement when he did.

Have heard rumblings. Good job DH took early retirement when he did.

Yeah, being an academic kinda blows chunks right now. (says she who is starting her adjunt position in January)

One wonders about the effects the fees jump will have overall.  Fewer people able to attend university and probably unable to get jobs.  Fewer students at unis and colleges would mean fewer lecturers needed, so more of them looking for jobs as well. Not to mention support staff.

I know that humanities will probably get the hardest cut while funding for maths and sciences will probably be safe.

Probably fewer EU students will attend as well. If Tier 4 doesn't get limited, then schools will cater themselves more towards international students.

I know that humanities will probably get the hardest cut while funding for maths and sciences will probably be safe.

Probably fewer EU students will attend as well. If Tier 4 doesn't get limited, then schools will cater themselves more towards international students.

But overseas fees are going up too.  Alright for students from oil-rich countries perhaps.

Humanities were already being cut in the UK 2 years ago when I was working there. I worked for the research council and it sometimes felt like bailing out a sinking ship.    Can't blame that one on the new government.

I agree that the hikes are a pretty extreme, but I can't help but think that if things were managed properly when Brown was in there (ideally a gradual increase over time), then they wouldn't be in this mess.

So, if they don't increase student fees, everyone feels okay about a tax increase to cover the increasing costs of the unis? If the students don't pay, someone is going to have to and that means the taxpayer. 


PS - I should point out that I have zero alliance towards any UK government.

However, tuition fees in the UK only date a few years ago, back to Blair. So if I were a student who grew up expecting free uni, then was expected to pay £3K per year, then was suddenly expected to pay £9K per year, I would definitely be upset.

Yeah, my mum didn't have to pay any tuition fees for her university degree back in the '70s... on top of that, she had no student loans and was actually awarded grants to pay for university!

My brother and I started university in 2001 (me) and 2004 (him) and we only had to pay £1,100 per year (our parents paid it for us, but they could only just afford the cost). We did have to take out student loans for living costs though (I borrowed about £13,000 over 4 years and with interest, it's already gone up to more than £16,000 and I'm likely to be paying it off for at least another 20 years).

My youngest brother started university last year and is paying £3,300 per year in tuition fees. Our parents cannot afford to pay this much, so he's having to take out a loan for his fees, plus a loan for his living costs every year... that's about £6,000-£7,000 per year, compared to the £3,000 per year that my brother and I took out just 5 years ago. We're just grateful that he started university before the new £9,000 fees were proposed!

I work between the Strand and Embankment and heard the protests going past the building most of the day. Considering my area of the office is not facing the main road and is eight floors up, that should say something. There were quite a few news helicopters hovering about as well. I'm just happy I didn't decide to leave the office for lunch today!

I think these tuition hikes are deplorable.  These days, a university degree is essential for anyone who wants a decent job, and it's so unfair that young people have to take on a mountain of debt before they even know where their lives will take them.  Personally, I wouldn't mind paying a bit more tax if it meant that people could have free education and an unburdened start to their adult lives.  I'd far rather have my tax money go to that than building fighter jets, for example.  I would think that our experience as American students who have racked up huge student loans would make us more sympathetic to UK students' plight, not less.