Late changes to university fee levels simply highlight government's policy failings

The union said the decision by the Office For Fair Access (OFFA) to allow the changes after universities had set their fee levels was a result of the government's efforts to drive down the cost of a degree. UCU warned universities were struggling to keep up with the flip-flop nature of government policy and warned courses were at risk of being axed.
 
UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'The government's fees policy has been a messy disaster from the start. Originally we were told fees over £6,000 would be the exception rather than the norm. The government budgeted for an average fee of £7,500 when the actual figure was almost £8,400 and now it has moved the goalposts in a desperate attempt to drive down costs.
 
'Universities simply cannot do more for less and threatening universities with fewer places if they don't drop their prices is likely to drive down quality and see successful courses that cost more to run close.'