1. What do those considering university in
the future have to say?

2. Andy Clarke, 19,
Labourer
“Well I decided that rather than do A Levels I
would do a part-time plastering degree at
college whilst also working for my dad’s firm. I’ve
really enjoyed working with my dad the last
three years but I’ve decided that I would like go
to university in September as I’ve seen some of
my friends leave and have a great time and think
I need to do the same. I still want to be some
sort of labourer but I now feel that I need to do a
bit of growing up and university is a great place
to do that. If I could go back I would probably
have gone to university this year rather than
wait, especially now that the tuition fees have
gone up. I think it’s getting a bit ridiculous and it
just seems to me that the government just want
to make as much money as possible, and put this
ahead of people getting a decent education.”

3. Emma Hicks, 17,
Student
“I feel quite annoyed about the
tuition fees and I don’t see how it can
be fair that I am one of the first
people who is going to have to pay at
least triple the amount the people in
the year above had to pay. I feel like
I’m being handicapped for wanting to
go out there and earn a living through
getting a solid education. It’s like the
government is punishing me for
wanting to contribute to society. I
could easily finish school and sit
around all day and live off benefits.”

4. Sukh Duzgun, 17,
Student
“I have never been interested in
university if I’m honest. I currently am at
college and then hope to get a job and
work my way up. I’ve never been the
intellectual type and I’m not from a
particularly well-off family and so I’ve
never looked at university as something I
have to do. Now that the fees have gone
up, thanks to the Conservatives and Nick
Clegg, I definitely am not considering
university or a degree – I simply can’t
afford it. I think there are a lot of people
in this situation and I also think a lot less
younger people trust politicians as a
result now.”

5. Irni Koulovasilopolous,
16, Student
“I won’t be going to university for
another two years so perhaps I don’t feel
as mad as some other people do as it’s
not like I’ve just missed out on cheaper
fees. I still want to go to university as I
want to become a lawyer and this is the
only way I can get a career at the end of
the day. I’m just going to work hard now,
hopefully go through university and if I
give it my all, hopefully I’ll be wealthy
enough to pay back my debt. Most of my
friends are going to university. Nowadays
it’s almost like a rite of passage and I
don’t think I’ve spoken to anyone who is
put off by the fees, it’s just one those
things.”

6. Joshua Reeve, 18,
Student
“Personally I’d rather I was a year older and
didn’t have to pay the extra fees. Provided I
get the grades I need to get to uni then I
think I will just have to except that it’s the
going rate at the moment. I hope in the
future that the government can look at this
and drop the price of an education. I know a
lot of people older than me who voted and I
know that they no longer trust Nick Clegg or
the Liberal Democrats anymore and I think
it’s going to take a few generations until
they can be trusted again. I’m finding A
Levels hard enough but knowing that I am
going to come out of this process, if I get to
university, in huge debt is a bit off putting
but if I want to get a good job, I need to go.”

7. Elizabeth
Berry, 19, Store
Assistant
“Well I had wanted to do midwifery at university
but I didn’t get the grades last summer and
found a job at Next. At the moment I’m torn. I
could quite easily carry on with this job and live
without the fear of debt and be earning some
money at the same time. But I also want to be a
midwife, and grow up and meet new friends and
get to know myself which I can’t really do at the
moment. The problem is that if I go to university
I’m going to be in more debt than any of my
other friends. My boyfriend is at university and
at times I feel quite lonely as all my friends are
off meeting new people but I’m still stuck in the
same town, but I know that if I went to university
now, I’d just keep thinking I’ve wasted a year of
my life in terms of education.”

8. Matt Newbould, 17,
Student
“I would like to go to university, as my sister
is currently in her second year and it seems
great. I think you just have to accept that
you’re gonna have to pay a lot of money but
if you work hard when you are there, I’m
sure you will get rewarded for it. If I get to
uni, and get a job I will be earning more than
people who go straight into a job and will be
able to eventually pay off my debt. I don’t
know if I blame the government really
though. I don’t trust Nick Clegg anymore,
and I will never ever vote for Lib Dems but I
understand that we are in a recession and
need to get as much money in as possible.
The price of tuition fees doesn’t put me off, I
just need to knuckle down now and get the
grades.”