University tuition fee increases: the influence of increasing fees on students entering Higher Education; student and staff expectations; and the potential revolution in the culture of Higher Education. A case study within an English post 1992 University

Abstract

September 2012 English universities witnessed a near trebling of their tuition fees for full-time undergraduate courses to an average of £8,580 per year (UCAS, 2012). In the same period was the growing accountability for universities to publish and demonstrate their performance to students. The research was undertaken in 2012/13 allowing comparison of the students who began their studies on the increased tuition fees, and the students who had started their studies in the previous year and who continued to pay the lower rate of fees. The research was undertaken across two English institutions: one ‘post 1992’ University, and one Further Education (FE) college which offered degree awards. The research includes survey responses from nearly 700 students, 97 academics and five interviews with senior university staff. The study provides evidence that students choose to study to improve their future earnings, seen in the motivating factors on choosing their university. Students taking on the persona of consumers is reflected in the expected rises in standards and reported rises in institutional complaints. Both academics and students expect change within the higher education industry and in institutional cultures. In turn these have implications for developing policy and future research