England University Students Propose Covid Discount On Tuition Fees

KUALA LUMPUR, 1.7.2021 – University students from England are calling for a £2,700 discount on tuition fees as compensation for the disruption of COVID-19 pandemic to their higher education.  

A group of student unions from London School of Economics (LSE) and the University of Sheffield wrote to the Universities Minister, Michelle Donelan, to propose that the government allow for a 30% tuition fee rebate for all students by increasing interest rates to 6.2%.  

The letter contained the following:  

“We are asking for immediate financial justice for Covid-affected cohorts of university students. In an ideal world, education should be free; however, in a year when students are calling for compensation on their fees, we have created a fiscally neutral solution to adjust tuition fees, supporting students with a one-off payment.” 

The proposal was based on calculations on modelling from the London Economics consultancy, which suggested that £1bn cost of the 30% rebate would be paid for by high-earning graduates. 

Because loans are written off after 30 years, the average male graduate would pay £6,500 more in loan repayments, but female graduates on average salaries could repay the same amount due to their lifetime savings being lower.  

The pandemic meant that most students were barred from campus from the end of autumn term to 17th May, causing them to miss out on in-person teaching, collaborative study, and access to facilities, social networking, and extracurricular activities.

Access to on-campus facilities such as libraries are restricted.

This caused the students much frustration when they discovered they were unable to use facilities that they already paid for. 

David Gordon, secretary at LSE, stated that universities may have been too hasty in recruiting students, creating unrealistic expectations about the academic year in the process. 

“Universities pitched themselves wrong in the summer of 2020. It’s led to a situation where students are extremely angry that they’re being charged extortionate prices for their education,” Gordon said.  

A spokesperson from the Department of Education said: “Universities have a strong track record in delivering excellent blended tuition, and we have been clear from the start of the pandemic that the quality and quantity should not drop.” 

At present, the department is monitoring the situation to ensure universities continue to deliver quality teaching and are open about what students can expect.  

Meanwhile, 17 student unions have come together to sign the letter in a display of consensus regarding the proposed discount in England.