Yorkshire university opts for £9,000 fees

A poll by the Sutton Trust revealed the majority of young people do not have a clear understanding of the tuition fees system and how much university could cost them.

The results published today show just 31 per cent of young people know the main way to pay for their degrees is to borrow from the Government, and pay it back after graduation once they are earning a certain wage. More than a fifth – 21 per cent – said the student’s family pays, while 11 per cent thought students pay with money they earn before and during their studies.

The trust, founded in 1997 by Sir Peter Lampl to promote social mobility through education, questioned almost 3,000 11- to 16-year-olds for the survey.

Sir Peter claimed it indicated many young people still aspire to a university education, even if they do not understand how it will be financed, but admitted he was “very concerned” many could give up once they realise.

York University will charge the maximum £9,000 fees from October 2012, in line with Bradford, Hull, Sheffield and Leeds. York Vice-Chancellor Prof Brian Cantor said the move aimed to ensure the university remains “an institution of the highest quality”.

University Centre Doncaster, a joint venture between Doncaster College and Hull University, has announced it will be charging £6,000 tuition fees for higher education students for the 2012\13 academic year.

MPs agreed in December to triple tuition fees to £9,000 from 2012, with graduates starting to pay back loans once they are earning £21,000. Reforms expected in a forthcoming Higher Education White Paper are expected to require universities to tell prospective students which subjects they should take to give them the best chance of a degree