Jon Cheek’s Post

Navigating the Student Fee Dilemma I find myself conflicted by the recent announcement on student fees. On one hand, I firmly believe that higher education should be accessible to all. It's a vital driver of social mobility and should not burden graduates with a lifetime of crippling debt. On the other hand, the current fee structure is simply unsustainable; many universities are facing serious financial challenges amid a culture of cuts. The reality is stark: universities cannot continue to function effectively at the current fee level of £9,250, which has remained unchanged since 2017. As tuition fees impact students directly, any adjustment influences their future debt levels and financial well-being. Graduates, too, feel the pinch when repayments cut into their monthly earnings, raising concerns about the long-term implications for social equity. We must find a balance. Ensuring that higher education remains accessible while equipping universities with the necessary resources is critical. This might require rethinking funding models or exploring innovative solutions that support both students and institutions without sacrificing accessibility. The debate on tuition fees is ongoing and complex, but prioritising a fair and sustainable approach is essential for the future of higher education in England.

Today’s tuition fees announcement by the Government is a positive step towards securing essential funding for higher education. It’s also welcome to see an increase in maintenance loans, crucial for supporting social mobility and making university accessible to students from all backgrounds. We need a more sustainable financing approach for higher education, through having a more progressive graduate contribution approach and a shift away from the fees/loans system that now costs so much to adminster. A longer-term settlement is also needed between Government, universities, business, and civil society to set clear, collective priorities with the sector. Similarly, let’s recognise the valuable contribution that internationals student also bring, not just on resources, but also on learning experience, knowledge exchange and research. I know from personal experience how transformational university can be for a first-generation student and that’s why I’m so proud of the many universities within the The Purpose Coalition who are playing a key role in driving social mobility, growth, and net-zero goals. I hope today’s announcement is the beginning of a more positive, constructive approach by Government to unlocking the full potential of our world class higher education sector. https://lnkd.in/g2FSb68V

🚨Labour have announced an increase in tuition fees. Do students need to panic? TLDR: No 😮💨 ‼️ What’s the detail? 👉🏻 Since 2017, tuition fees have been frozen at £9250 per year 👉🏻 With a Higher Education sector in financial trouble, Labour have decided to apply an inflationary increase to tuition fees from Sept 2025 academic year, from £9250 to £9535 per year ‼️ What does it mean? ⭐️ Universties will have access to more money per student to invest in students’ education, making it easier to deliver high quality provision and adapt to developments like AI and lifelong learning ⭐️ The vast vast majority of students will not pay more as a result of the increase. Loans are paid back once graduates start earning over a certain amount. The repayment threshold (the salary you have to earn before you start making monthly repayments) and the repayment term (how many years you’ll make repayments for) are unchanged. Only those graduates who are most well-off will likely just repay their loans each month for longer where previously they may have hit the repayment term end before paying it all off. Though the maximum maintenance loan value will also increase im disappointed that DfE seem to have been unable to convince treasury of the need to re-introduce student maintenance grants. That said, overall this announcement means that universities will be in a much better position to deliver the student experience that they promise on prospectuses, and for that I am glad. I look forward to seeing what further reform Labour is planning in the coming weeks, particularly in the space of quality. https://lnkd.in/e7TUq4kW #HigherEducationPolicy #TuitionFees

Interesting article this morning on BBC news on the impact of rising tuition fees for students. Going to University should be an option available to everyone regardless of their family income. Ensuring sufficient Maintenance support is critical. If it costs £18,632 to go to University and participate in student life, as estimated by The University of Loughborough. Universities being forced to make cut backs and any rise in fees will still be less than they believe is needed to deliver courses. Cut backs and rising tuition fees are not going to help improve student sentiment. At the moment 36% of students think their course is good or value for money, the lowest in the UK. A rise in tuition fees coupled with cutbacks Universities are being forced to make is not going to help improve this. So the question is how are we going to do it? How can we ensure Universities are adequately funded and Higher Education is open to all.. https://lnkd.in/eNm2QC2i

With rising tuition fees, university marketing teams are facing a new challenge: how can they continue to attract students without letting affordability become a major barrier? The reality is the increase in fees is only £285 – so not as big as some institutions would have hoped for or desperately needed. But this increase may not be a one-off – it could set a new precedent for the future and be the start of more fee hikes. So, what does this mean for your marketing strategy? How can you navigate this shift and ensure students still see the value in higher education, even as costs climb? Here’s where your messaging can make all the difference: 1. Make financial support visible Affordability isn’t just about tuition fees. Highlight financial aid, scholarships, and support options clearly in your marketing to reassure students and show your commitment to access for all. 2. Emphasise value over cost Students are increasingly focused on the return on their educational investment. Highlight employability, industry connections, and unique experiences to show why the value of your institution outweighs the cost. 3. Engage and reassure parents Parents play a key role in decision-making, so don’t overlook them. Address their concerns about long-term value, career prospects, return on investment, and student support to build trust and confidence in your institution. Right now, the conversation around university feels stuck on price tags and not on outcomes. So, let’s shift the narrative.   What do you think? #HEMarketing #HigherEducationMarketing #HigherEducation #UniversityFees https://lnkd.in/eEdcQAwY

With tuition fees on the rise, the financial landscape for students in the UK has become even more challenging. But beyond the headline-grabbing tuition fee raise last week, there’s another crucial financial gap affecting students: maintenance loans. The real value of these loans has dwindled, creating a wider gap between what students need to live and what they actually receive. This discrepancy impacts students’ ability to cover essentials, focus on studies, and fully engage in university life without additional financial strain. It’s a pressing issue that speaks to more than just numbers—it’s about ensuring equitable access to higher education. I’ve included a chart below from a Universities UK article to illustrate this point, showing just how stark the shortfall has become. What are your thoughts on this challenge for students today? Read the full Universities UK article here: https://lnkd.in/ePYxQ3Ky

Are we failing our students? A piece from the the FT today on the 'cost of learning crisis' faced by uni students in England 🎓💸 Link to article (paywall): https://lnkd.in/eq-PD8-F Key points: 1️⃣ Government maintenance support for university students in England is at its lowest level in a decade 2️⃣ The gap between maximum loan entitlement and minimum income standard has rapidly grown due to inflation 3️⃣ Financial pressures are impacting poorer students, and middle-income families bear a larger share of student support 4️⃣ University leaders call for increased government contributions to student support 5️⃣ The Department for Education highlights increases in loans, grants, and hardship funds 6️⃣ Failure to address financial challenges risks reversing progress in social mobility and widening opportunities in higher education What are the possible solutions here? #HigherEducation #StudentSupport #SocialMobility 📚

With many Scottish universities under significant financial stress and several predicting deficits in the coming year, the potential rise of tuition fees in England, as discussed in the recent Wonkhe article, raises crucial questions for Scotland. The current funding model, while rooted in the principle of free tuition for home students, is becoming increasingly unsustainable. As higher fees across the border threaten to widen the funding gap, is it time for the Scottish Government to reconsider its approach before several institutions face the risk of insolvency? A sustainable, long-term funding solution is needed to protect the quality and accessibility of Scottish higher education. #HigherEducation #ScottishUniversities #UniversityFunding #Sustainability #AccessToEducation #PolicyChange

💰 Big news in higher education! 🎓 The government has confirmed that tuition fees will rise to £9,535 for UK universities—marking the first increase since 2017! 📈 Over the last few years, universities have faced numerous challenges: drops in international students, immigration restrictions, rising inflation, and the recent NI increases announced in the Autumn budget. If funding per student had kept pace with inflation, it would be between £12,000-£13,000! 📉 Ahead of this announcement, The Office for Students raised concerns, noting that 40% of universities are anticipating a deficit this academic year. While universities might welcome this news, it's understandable that many students are less than thrilled. It's reported that almost 1.8 million students are carrying at least £50,000 worth of debt! I’d love to hear your thoughts on this. What do you think is the solution? Is there a solution?! 🤔💬 #HigherEducation #UniversityFunding #StudentFinance

My thoughts on the calls for tuition fee increases, on behalf of the National Union of Students (UK): "Students must not be expected to foot the bill for the university funding crisis. Increasing tuition fees would only up the debt burden on students, especially those from the poorest backgrounds, and further punish students who are investing in their futures and the future of the country. Our institutions clearly need more money, but so too do students. The failure of maintenance funding to keep up with inflation has left the average student in England with 50p to live on per week after rent and bills. The crisis impacting university finances is the same that is driving students into poverty in increasing numbers. So let’s be clear: increases to university funding must be done hand in hand with increases to student maintenance funding. Rather than turning to the easy option of increasing fees, the sector and government must find a sustainable solution, starting by balancing public and private investment in higher education – currently just 16% of funding per student comes from the public sector." https://lnkd.in/e6Vz7s8J