Assessing value for money in higher education

The higher education reforms in 2012 resulted in an increase in the fee cap to £9,000, and coincided with a cut in direct grant funding from government to universities. While the evidence shows a higher education degree is an excellent long-term investment – with graduates earning more than non-graduates over their lifetimes, and developing skill sets to benefit their working lives and beyond – the rise in the fee cap has focused attention on whether students are receiving sufficient value for money from the current system. Read More