Young people’s views of higher

education in Scotland and England

Sarah Minty, Research Fellow

Centre for Research in Education Inclusion &

Diversity, University of Edinburgh

Follow us on Twitter: @Indy_Scot_HE

Tweet using #HEScot

Overview

Post-school plans

Views on tuition fees – now and in the future

Attitudes to debt

Knowledge and understanding of student finance

Access to HE

Contextual admissions

The referendum on independence

Our future: young people’s views on

higher education in Scotland

In total, 148 young people aged 14 to 19 were interviewed

during the two stages to the research:

• 89 young people in Scotland were interviewed for the

film, ‘Our Future: young people’s views of HE in

Scotland’

• A further 59 young people in Scotland and the north of

England took part in more in-depth interviews

121 young people in Scotland and 27 in England

From: 12 state schools, 1 independent school,

2 sixth form colleges and 1 FE college

Post-school plans (%)

Pros and cons of higher

education

Majority looking forward to going to university

Employability viewed as the principle purpose of university

Individualistic and instrumental views of HE prioritised

over the intrinsic value of learning and societal good of

university

…but widespread fears about graduate employment

opportunities as HE participation increases

Pupils spoke of feeling pressured to go to university

Perceived lack of alternatives explored in school

Those not planning to go to university felt side-lined

College vs university

I felt pressured into going to uni instead of college just because

I feel like people frown upon it a wee bit to go to college and

they don’t think that it’s the right way to go. But if it’s what you

want to do then you should be allowed to do it.

[…]

I think it’s coming from the school and then your friends

obviously. But they don’t mean it in a bad way but they’re just

like, ‘oh that’s different. We’re all going to uni and then you’re

the only one going to college’. You just feel a bit singled out.

And you’re too embarrassed to tell people in case they frown

upon it. (Laura, South Lanarkshire)

Who should pay for higher

education?

Scotland

76% of Scottish pupils believed higher education should be free for all

Perceived link between free HE and widening access

Pupils from more deprived areas in Scotland more likely to suggest

that those who can afford it should pay

North of England

76% of north of England pupils said students should contribute to costs

of HE

But anger that fees are so high (£3,000 considered reasonable)

Fees ensure students ‘appreciate’ their learning. Concern that free HE

is ‘wasted’

Alternative views on fees

I think they should definitely be universal to everybody. I mean

tuition fees especially ‘cause I feel that education’s a right, not a

privilege. So it shouldn’t just be the elite people who get, like,

put first and therefore get an education. (Emily, Edinburgh

South)

I would probably say half and half [funding should be split

between student and state]. ‘Cause I do agree with what you’re

saying that I don’t think they would appreciate it as much if it’s

free. ‘Cause I don’t think I would ,‘cause I don’t think you

appreciate something that you get for free. But something that

you’re going to have to work hard for, I think you cherish it

more. (Michelle, Tyne & Wear)

Future of free tuition in Scotland:

‘it all depends on the referendum’

It’s hard but deep down I don’t think we will [retain free tuition]. I

think maybe in the next 8 to 10 years I see, especially with the

independence thing coming in, I think if Scotland go independent we

won’t be able maintain the National Health Service for a start. I

don’t think we’ll be able to continue free health service, dental care

and stuff and education I think will be pushed to the side and we’ll

be more focussed on money towards health care rather than money

towards education . (Iain, South Lanarkshire)

I think Scotland will always have the free tuition fees. I think it might

be one of the things that people really agree with in Scotland. So I

think the free tuition fees will stay. (Callum, South Lanarkshire)

rUK fees: ‘how unfair is that?!’

rUK fees

Pupils in both countries felt that the charging of rUK students to

study in Scotland is ‘unfair’

Concerns that indy Scotland may not be able to charge rUK fees

– potentially impacting on Scottish places

Lack of understanding around issues of HE funding and

devolution

It’s a bit annoying because why do Scottish citizens get free and

we don’t when we’re in the same country. What makes the

Scottish special so they don’t, and we have to pay? And

especially with EU students coming across – how come they don’t

have to pay and we do? Are we paying for them? I’m not sure

how it works. (John, Tyne & Wear)

Attitudes towards debt

Scottish pupils substantially more debt averse than

those in north of England (especially those from

deprived areas)

Debt was normalised in north of England

Scottish pupils saw loans as ‘last resort’

Many planned to avoid debt partly by living at home

(41% of Scots planned to live at home vs 14% from

north of England)

Attitude to debt informed by level of understanding of

student funding and support

Knowledge and understanding

of student finance

Poor understanding of student finance and student

support across all schools and colleges visited

Knowledge and understanding much worse in Scotland,

particularly amongst those from more deprived areas

and/ or first in family applicants

Some Scots:

o Saw English fees as being upfront charges

o Confused English and Scottish loan repayments

o Misunderstood how maintenance loans are repaid

Access: ‘it’s up to the individual

to do well’

I think it doesn’t matter what area you come from, if you want it

you can get it. So if you are at a state school and you want to go

to uni you can go to uni if you just work hard. The same as private

school students if they want to go to uni they’ll just work as hard. I

think it’s up to an individual as well, it doesn’t matter what area

you come from. I think as an individual if that’s your dream you

can do it. (James, South Lanarkshire)

I think there’s certain, you know, there’s a few of the high unis, the

biggest Unis like Cambridge, Oxford like the ones in England – I

think them ones they might look at your background and stuff like

that, but others, I think it’s just everyone’s got a chance. It doesn’t

matter if you’re wealthy, rich or wherever you come from.

(Luke, Tyne & Wear)

Social background determines

access

I mean, people from more affluent areas and better schools are more

likely to get the exam results. So people from less well-off areas are

gonna have to work harder to get there. And it’s to get to the same place

really. So it would be more difficult. People from affluent areas would

have an easier time getting there, I think.

(Neil, Glasgow North)

I think the person who went to the private school has a lot more

advantages than the person who doesn’t. If they go to private school I’m

assuming that their parents are very well off and they’ll get private tuition

and have hobbies and interests which will relate to it more. So the person

who’s gone to a state school and lives in a single family, and the mam’s

on minimum wage, if they’re getting really good grades, they’ve put a lot

of their own effort in and their own time into it instead of having somebody

hold their hand the whole way through. (David, Tyne & Wear)

Majority support the rationale behind the policy but many

claim it is ‘unfair’

I think sometimes, I agree with you, but sometimes it levels the

playing field a bit. ‘Cause if somebody’s had to work so much

harder to get to a position that comes naturally for somebody

else due to like… So I think a bit of equality might be nice.

But it’s a difficult position because I wouldn’t like to be given a

handout. I’d find it quite patronising. But then it could be a

gift for somebody else. (Katie, NE2.2)

Contextual admissions

The referendum on

independence

Majority (58%) plan to vote no; 13% yes; 29% undecided

Majority welcome votes at 16, but many are suspicious of

political motive to lower voting age

High level of engagement in the debate

…but desire for targeted, unbiased information,

particularly from undecided voters

Concern for pupils not taking Modern Studies – how do

they get their information?

Issues for consideration

Perception that free tuition improves access for non-traditional

students, and concerns that high fees in England may deter

these students

…but many question about the sustainability of free tuition in

Scotland

Poor levels of knowledge and understanding of student finance -

those with the least knowledge were the most worried about

debt

Perceived lack of alternatives to higher education

Differing ideas of fairness impacting on views of contextual

admissions