Lords vote is huge blow for students and universities

The motion to increase fees to £9,000 a year was passed by 283 votes to 215. UCU says it will pave the way for ministers to cut university teaching budgets by 80% overall and up to 100% at some institutions.
 
UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'This vote is a huge blow for future students, who will now face fees of up to £9,000 a year, and is terrible for the sector. This consequence of this vote is the government taking a huge axe to university teaching budgets.
 
'Other countries are investing heavily in their higher education systems but our leaders seem intent on taking a different path. The sad reality is that universities will have to charge much higher fees just to recoup the money the government is taking away in budget cuts. This battle is not over and we will continue to fight the cuts institution by institution.'
 
A UCU report released last week revealed that universities would have to charge an average fee of close to £7,000 just to maintain current funding levels. More on that can be found at: Universities will have to charge £7,000 annual fees just to break even