The end of free college in England: implications for quality, enrolments and equity

Richard Murphy, Judith Scott-Clayton and Gill Wyness

LSE Research Online Documents on Economics from London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library

Abstract: Despite increasing financial pressures on higher education systems throughout the world, many governments remain resolutely opposed to the introduction of tuition fees, and some countries and states where tuition fees have been long established are now reconsidering free higher education. This paper examines the consequences of charging tuition fees on university quality, enrolments, and equity. To do so, we study the English higher education system which has, in just two decades, moved from a free college system to one in which tuition fees are among the highest in the world. Our findings suggest that England’s shift has resulted in increased funding per head, rising enrolments, and a narrowing of the participation gap between advantaged and disadvantaged students. In contrast to other systems with high tuition fees, the English system is distinct in that its income-contingent loan system keeps university free at the point of entry, and provides students with comparatively generous assistance for living expenses. We conclude that tuition fees, at least in the English case supported their goals of increasing quality, quantity, and equity in higher education

Keywords: higher education; financial aid; tuition fees; inequality (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I22 I23 I28 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017-10-01
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-edu
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Related works:
Working Paper: The end of free college in England: implications for quality, enrolments and equity (2017)
Working Paper: The End of Free College in England: Implications for Quality, Enrolments, and Equity (2017)
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