Law Weblog

Higher Education Act receives Royal Assent

From 2006, upfront university fees will be abolished. Full-time undergraduate students will not have to pay fees before or during their university education, while their parents will not have to pay fees at any time. Graduates will only pay once they are earning and at a level linked to their earnings.

The point at which graduates start paying back their (real rate interest free) loan will rise from the current level of £10,000 to £15,000. A graduate earning £20,000 will pay just £8.65 per week no matter what they owe, against £17.31 per week under the current scheme.