The balance that grew while he repaid it
A Newcastle graduate says he now owes £30,000 more than he borrowed, and that the system hits working and middle class graduates hardest — those who earn enough to repay for decades without clearing the balance, while the highest earners pay theirs off early. It is the arithmetic the parliamentary inquiry is examining. Student finance explained covers how it happens.
What undergraduates actually think about divisive issues
A HEPI policy note surveys students on the contested questions of the moment — speech, identity, protest, and what universities should permit. The findings complicate the caricature in both directions, which is why it is worth reading rather than summarising: students hold positions that do not map onto the political camps claiming to speak for them.
More universities are exploring mergers
Research suggests consolidation is becoming a prominent feature of the sector, with more institutions exploring mergers under financial pressure, after King’s and Cranfield announced theirs in May. Mergers change course portfolios and campuses over years rather than months; the question for a current student is which degree name ends up on the certificate.
“The worst year of my life”: transferring universities
A Scottish student describes transferring to a different university after a first year in which she felt pressure to fit in and unsupported on her course. Transferring is possible more often than students think — usually into second year with credit — and the route is a conversation with both admissions offices before the application deadline. Surviving second year covers what changes.