Opinion: Should our university fees be reduced?

This was not the “University experience” that anybody signed up for.

Three lockdowns, endless zoom calls and too much time at home has taken a toll on us all: both physically and mentally. It’s no surprise that people are becoming restless at this point after spending almost a year in these abnormal conditions.

Peoples' lives have been interrupted. But students have undoubtedly been one of the most neglected groups in the UK as we pay thousands towards a University that we cannot physically attend. It is all online learning - but the price is the same.

Students have been expected to continue with their work as if the Uni experience is seemingly normal. But what is normal about lectures all day on Blackboard and spending the weekends twiddling our thumbs because there is nothing to do?

Some have made the argument that the course has the same worth since lecturers are working just as much, if not more, online and students have access to the same amount of knowledge. However, I would argue differently.

Let’s think about this logically for a second; students pay £9000 a year for their degree. This money goes towards equipment that students cannot borrow, facilities we are unable to access and learning from inside our own accommodation (which is not included in this price, may I add).

The petition signed by over 170,000 students to lower tuition fees while online learning takes place has already been debated by Parliament. However the response was less than satisfactory; since “Universities are responsible for setting their own fees”, they were “not considering a temporary change to fee limits”. (https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/552911)

Despite the recession of jobs and the standard employee now requiring degrees that didn’t 10 years ago, University has become almost expected for young people to progress in the economy - thanks to the Government.

Therefore, they hold responsibility for the state of our Universities, that also once used to be free to attend not all that long ago.

Businesses have been made a priority to the government in order to keep the economy going and help maintain employment. Furlough has been given to workers around the country and schemes such as “Eat out to Help out” was used by the Government to try and keep the hospitality industry afloat. But what about University businesses?

Seemingly every other industry has been supported through these “unprecedented times” and all students get is blame for ‘causing the second spike’. No refunds, no price alterations, nothing.

Edited by Pia Cooper