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Fee controversy heightens

19 Jun 2007

Fee controversy heightens The National Union of Students (NUS) has expressed concerns over the huge debts many students have to shoulder.

Figures recently released by the Student Loans Company revealed that English students borrowed almost £377 million to pay their tuition fees in 2006-7.

Almost £2.6 million was also lent to English students for maintenance costs.

Gemma Tumelty, NUS President, commented on the findings: "Naturally NUS is concerned that debt levels seem to be rising to such dramatic proportions.

"Fee loans, along with levels of borrowing for living expenses, have now ratcheted up typical graduate debts to a massive £30,000.

"Debt does not only affect students' choices before they enter university - it affects the courses they choose, the career they take on, the likelihood of them pursuing further study, and their chances to save and invest as graduates."

In an online poll hosted by Milkround.com this week, 80 per cent of students and graduates called for all tuition fees to be scrapped.

This follows the recent announcement that Scotland has ditched £2,000 tuition endowment payments made by graduates.

Mike Barnard, spokesman for Milkround.com, said: "The rising costs of being a student - and the resulting debt on graduation - will always mean tuition fees are seen in a predominantly negative light, but this has been heightened by the scrapping of Scotland's tuition endowment."

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