KCLSU currently opposes the introduction of fees for undergraduate education, but, due to the fact that they are now law, is pragmatic about the situation. We are continually working to secure benefits for students derived from the extra income that the College will receive.

The College has produced comprehensive information explaining the practical implementation of the funding process and how each student can access support from government, Local Education Authorities (LEA) and the College if they haven't done so already. KCLSU strongly recommends every new and returning student read this information and familiarise themselves with College help points regarding student funding issues.

Fortunately, King's has pledged 25% of income derived from the new fees to directly benefit students via myBursary and myScholarship. If you need any help with these schemes, just let us know.

Along with the National Union of Students (NUS) we will be working towards 2009/10, when the £3,000 cap on a year's fees will be debated in Westminster, with the aim of preventing any rise in that figure.

History

This year a new system of student funding and fees was introduced by the government for the following reasons:

• to increase funding for universities (by saddling students with the financial burdens incurred by their tuition); and
• to increase student access to Higher Education by reducing financial barriers to entry.

The paradoxical nature of these requirements has resulted in a plethora of student bureaucracy, financial deadlines, support packages and bursary incentives. Students starting university in 2006 have had to contend with more financial regulations and forms filling than their predecessors ever had to.

2001
UK universities are under-funded and over subscribed. Student services are out-dated and lecturers under-paid. If Labour wants 50% of 18-25 to be in university something drastic needs to happen. The Government's White Paper of Higher Education is the catalyst for this.

2003
The largest ever student demonstration on fees descends on Westminster. Students are unhappy that future generations will be expected to pay £3,000 a year for the privilege to be educated; an increase or 'Top-Up' of £1,800 on what students currently pay. Their main argument, other than restricting access (2006 university applications for UCAS fell by 3.7% * ) rested on the fact that all of society benefited from graduates, so all tax-payers should proportionately invest in the education of the next generation. The vote was lost and the 2003 Higher Education Bill passed.

2006
New students, although paying increased fees now have greater access to support. The average student has changed - with over 60% ** now holding down part-time jobs, gaining employability skills and networking from the start. The student financial world is now strewn with new rhetoric:

Student Loan for Fees
Although Fees are still paid up front, every UK new undergraduate student can apply for an annual loan, to cover the £3,000 cost; a loan which was unavailable to students paying £1,200. However if new students, or parents of students can afford to pay the annual £3,000 they can do so and therefore opt out of receiving the loan.

Total debt after study £9,000

Student Living Loan
The same as current students: new UK students will be eligible for a 'living loan' from the Student Loans Company (SLC). Entitlement will be judged by a student's Local Education Authority (LEA), but the maximum received by London students £6,170 a year.

Total debt after study £26,960

LEA Maintenance Grant
New for 2006, some students are entitled to an additional grant, depending on parents income. This grant is anything up to £2,700 and was introduced by the Government as a form of appeasement to off-set the persevered financial barriers envisioned by low-wage families when applying to Universities.

The future?

2008
Students are still struggling for the right to receive free education. However with 'Top-Up' fees now in place universities' management are already lobbying the Government to lift the cap off £3,000 leaving universities open to charge students any amount of tuition fees. This will create a market system and morphing the very reason why students attend university - for the love of learning - into a tactical investment.

Current students find this unacceptable, many want to continue the campaign: to ask the Government to invest in UK universities, but not at the expensive of levelling the sole responsibility on to students. The National Union of Students (NUS) has started campaigning already. On Sunday 29 October KCLSU will be hosting the National Demonstration After Party. The Government needs to know that this is still an issue for students - more details will follow shortly.

In the mean time, KCLSU would like to hear about your financial issues, please log-on to the forum to post your views - we'll publish your words of advice and experiences below.

* Guardian, 31 August 2006
** Guardian, 1 September 2006

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