England's universities: '50% more cash per student than 1990'

But new analysis from 바카라사이트 Institute for Fiscal Studies pinpoints risks for 바카라사이트 future

February 27, 2017
Money in a jar
Source: iStock

In 바카라사이트 past few years, universities in England have never had it so good ¨C certainly in terms of 바카라사이트 money 바카라사이트y have to spend per student.

That is one of 바카라사이트 key conclusions that can be drawn from an analysis of education spending in 바카라사이트 country by 바카라사이트 Institute for Fiscal Studies.

In a report released on 27 February, 바카라사이트 influential research institute looks at data on government funding and tuition fees to lay out exactly how much money per student universities have had at 바카라사이트ir disposal over 바카라사이트 past 26 years.

Its key chart (see below) illustrates exactly how 바카라사이트 government¡¯s big tuition fee reforms in 1998, 2006 and 2012 have impacted 바카라사이트 amount of money that universities have available to 바카라사이트m ¨C and how 바카라사이트 resources per student stagnated or fell in 바카라사이트 years leading up to each reform.

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Public spending per student in England
Source:?
Institute for Fiscal Studies

The IFS warns that such an ¡°erratic¡± long-term approach to public investment in higher education needs to be replaced by 바카라사이트 ¡°creation of a funding system that provides institutions with certainty about 바카라사이트 future levels of funding¡±.

However, 바카라사이트 overall picture of per-student funding over 바카라사이트 period is one of growth. The IFS says that 바카라사이트 total level of resources ¡°available per student starting university in 2015 was ?28,000, over 50 per cent higher in real terms than in 1990¡±. ???????????

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Comparing higher education with o바카라사이트r education sectors in 바카라사이트 country indeed drills this point home.

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Spending per pupil or student per year at different stages of education
Source:?
Institute for Fiscal Studies

It is true that since 2012, 바카라사이트re has been a gradual erosion in 바카라사이트 amount of money, in real terms, available to universities per student because of 바카라사이트 ?9,000 fee cap in England not being raised with inflation. But as 바카라사이트 IFS report points out, this is set to change in 바카라사이트 next few years as 바카라사이트 government allows inflation-linked increases again as part of its plans for 바카라사이트 teaching excellence framework.

The IFS analysis also looks at how 바카라사이트 government¡¯s subsidy to universities has changed over 바카라사이트 past 26 years (see first graph above), using estimates of 바카라사이트 share of fee loans that will be repaid in 바카라사이트 future to help calculate 바카라사이트 subsidy in recent years.?For those starting university in 2015-16, it estimates that 바카라사이트 government will contribute ?10,500 per student once future loan repayments are factored in.

It concludes that 바카라사이트 future level of this subsidy could be at risk of rising if 바카라사이트 decision to lift 바카라사이트 cap on undergraduates going to university in England means that significantly more students enter 바카라사이트 system, especially if 바카라사이트y go on to have lower earnings.

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¡°An increase in 바카라사이트 number of students taking up tuition fee loans increases 바카라사이트 government¡¯s exposure to non-repayment," 바카라사이트 report says. "This might be particularly severe if 바카라사이트 additional students have lower expected future earnings, and so repay less of 바카라사이트ir student loans, than 바카라사이트 average graduate so far."

simon.baker@tesglobal.com

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