Higher Education and Social Justice

A briefing on the government’s proposals for reforming student finance

A Catalyst briefing paper.

Published: December 2003

This briefing is intended to help inform the debate over the government’s proposed reforms of Higher Education funding as set out in the White Paper of January 2003 and due to be contained in a Higher Education Bill as announced in the Queen’s Speech of November 2003.

The reform of higher education funding raises a number of important and complex issues, not all of which are covered in depth here. But the fundamental concern which has animated much of the debate is over the possible impact of any reforms on equality of access and the position of students from poorer backgrounds. It is on this question that this briefing concentrates.

“Top-up fees will 'bar the poor from elite courses'” –
The Times, 10 December

“Rebels fail to halt variable fees” – The Guardian, 10 December

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