The HEPI and Which? report found that the percentage of students reporting that their course was poor value for money had almost doubled since tuition fees were trebled in 2012. 58% of students felt that their course was worse than their expectations in some ways and a third would possibly have chosen a different course given the opportunity.
Students who work during term time also report missing more timetabled lessons. This backs up NUS research released in 2012 which found that students who worked longer hours were significantly less able to concentrate on their studies and more likely to worry about paying basic expenses.
Rachel Wenstone, NUS Vice-President (Higher Education), said:
“Government reforms are asking students to think more like consumers while denying students who are dissatisfied anyway of holding their institution to account. The information that is given to students and the way it is presented makes it very hard for students to make informed decisions and universities are often far from transparent about the additional costs of studying. It is very difficult for a student to transfer from one institution to another taking their course credits with them and virtually impossible for a student to get a refund when they’ve been let down by an institution.
“The whole system of sticker price tuition fees sets up unsavoury ideas about education as a financial transaction rather than a collaborative learning process that has value to students and society that extends way beyond the financial value of a degree certificate. The government needs to undo its shambolic changes to higher education and find a better way for graduates to contribute towards the education system, halting the marketization of universities that is of no benefit to students or society.
“There is yet more proof in this report that the financial support system is failing to help the students who need it most. Students do not receive enough government support to pay basic expenses and working long hours can have a detrimental impact on their studies. We all know the impact that worrying about fitting work around other commitments and about paying bills can have on our well-being and the same is true for students.”