Too much debt or value for money? Students divided over tuition fee rise

Sam’s rent, at roughly £8,500 for the year, is being paid for by his parents. He is also given a monthly allowance of £250 to support his living costs.

Next year, as well as increasing domestic tuition fees, the government is also increasing the caps on maintenance loans – to help students better afford their living costs.

Caps on loans are increasing from £10,227 to £10,544 for students living away from the family home outside of London, and from £13,348 to £13,762 for those students living in London.

But personal finance expert Martin Lewis says maintenance loans are still not large enough, external to support students who are unable to access additional help from their parents.

Sam’s parents have set up their home as an Airbnb to help Sam and his older sister through university.

His dad, David, says they were determined to “find a way” to make it happen.

David says he is “a believer in paying the going rate”, as long as students are getting value for money in terms of access to their lecturers and the same extra-curricular opportunities, like trips and placements, that they would have had before Covid.

But he says if costs went up further there would have to be a “tough conversation about what we can do” to financially support the children.

David says he hopes there will be more value to Sam’s time at university than just a degree.

“In terms of the full uni experience, what I’m seeing is massively beneficial for him,” he says.

“Sam could come out with a great business degree, and, yes, it will give him a step down that path – but will it define who he is in 10, 15 years? I hope not.

“I hope he comes out of it thinking that was a great time in his life, that he met loads of really cool people who are friends for life.”