University tuition fees have increased 800% since 1998.Do English university students get a raw deal in comparison to other UK students though? English students face some of the highest tuition fees in the world and the highest average debts at graduation according to a report by Dr Philip Kirby, published by The Sutton Trust.

University tuition fees were first introduced in 1998/1999, when they were £1,000 a year. In 2006/2007 they were increased to £3,000 per year and since 2012/2013 tuition fees have been £9,000 a year. I say this, because when the Government introduced the maximum £9,000 fees, they argued that very few universities would charge this maximum, in reality of course most did.

Tuition fees are set to rise even further as the government propose that they could rise, not only with inflation, but also where universities can evidence excellence. Add to this the fact that maintenance grants are a thing of the past (at least for English students) and it all seems pretty depressing – no wonder older people talk whimsically about the good old days! - BTW - now is a good time to apply for student finance. - Want to find out which jobs are set to grow in the future BEFORE you choose what to study?

How English university students get a raw deal compared with the rest of the UK

Welsh university students compared with English

Universities in Wales can, if they want to, charge up to £9,000 tuition fees and full time students are entitled to a tuition fee loan of up to £3,810. This loan is less that the maximum fee I hear you say, how do Welsh students cover their costs? Well, if the student attends a university that charges more than this in tuition fees, the Welsh government provides a ‘top-up grant’ which makes up the difference – Welsh students, unlike English students, have their university fees subsidised by the government.

What if a Welsh student goes to university in England?

Here’s the kicker – if a Welsh student goes to university in England – they take their subsidy with them – the funding follows the learner. So, a Welsh student studying at say, Birmingham University, on a course that has tuition fees of £9,000, will rack up a tuition fee debt of £11,430 compared with an English student who will graduate with a debt of £27,000.

Welsh students can also still access maintenance grants, which are based on their household income – so, it pays to be Welsh.

How does the English offer compare with that of Northern Ireland?

Like universities in England, those in Northern Ireland can charge tuition fees of up to £9,000 – UNLESS the student is from Northern Ireland. If a student, who is from Northern Ireland, studies at a university in Northern Ireland, their fees are capped at £8,925.

Again, Northern Irish students are entitled to maintenance grants as well as loans – feeling hard done by yet English students?

Let’s see if it’s any fairer between England and Scotland

Hold on to your hats kids – Universities in Scotland can charge up to £9,000 tuition fees to UK students from outside of Scotland. Students who are normally resident in Scotland (temporarily living there as a student doesn’t count) are charges up to £1,820, but this is fully covered by a tuition fee grant, so effectively they don’t pay.

Maintenance grants again are available to support students from less affluent backgrounds. The difference between the Scottish financial support system and Welsh is that Scottish students cannot take this support with them wherever they go – they have to attend university in Scotland to receive this special ‘protection’.

So, all in all – it does look a bit like English students don’t receive as much love as their Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish counterparts. It certainly looks like English university students get a raw deal - Sorry English students; still let’s hope that your massive debts at graduation are worth it when you walk straight into a well-paid job with lots of security…oh, wait a minute…