Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotland

Click on the above.

The Times Higher Education, read only by some academics, has this below but as you can see above this important news is being hidden from the electorate:

‘We’re looking at all parts of the system – except tuition fees’

https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/were-looking-all-parts-system-except-tuition-fees

The THE article by Helen Packer is actually not at all supportive of the Scottish Government, foregrounding the views of critics so, even hear the SNP election campaign is being questioned.

How does Scotland’s free university tuition system compare with other systems charging students thousands in fees in terms of wider societal and economic benefits?

Scotland’s system shines in reducing financial barriers and debt-related harms, fostering broader participation (especially via colleges) and a societal ethos of education as a right. It likely delivers net positives for social cohesion, mental health, and consumption-driven growth, with graduates freer to contribute flexibly to society. Grok AI

Sources:

Reduced Financial Barriers and Debt-Related Harms

• Lower graduate debt in Scotland (typically £15,000–£18,000 vs. £45,000+ in England, mostly maintenance loans only):
  • Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) on Scottish universities and students under pressure: https://ifs.org.uk/articles/scottish-universities-and-students-are-under-pressure-and-so-scottish-budget
  • Recent analysis showing £35,000+ debt gap widening (Scottish graduates at ~£18,000 vs. English at ~£53,000): https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/25792940.snp-labour-clash-tuition-fees-debt-gap-widens
  • Scottish Government Student Finance and Wellbeing Study literature review (noting lower overall debt due to no fees): https://www.gov.scot/publications/literature-review-student-finance-wellbeing-study-scotland-2023-24/pages/7
  • Vox overview of Scotland’s free tuition lessons (applications rose, debt lower, enabling freer post-grad choices): https://www.vox.com/2015/10/22/9592460/college-tuition-free-scotland
• Relief from fees and debt aversion (qualitative relief, affordability, no “decades of debt”):
  • Scottish Government Student Finance and Wellbeing Study findings (students report relief at fees paid, making study more affordable): https://www.gov.scot/publications/student-finance-wellbeing-study-sfws-scotland-2023-2024-research-findings-summary/pages/3
  • Political framing (education based on ability to learn, not pay; graduates “tens of thousands better off” for careers, homes, families): https://www.facebook.com/ChristineGrahameMSP/posts/in-scotland-we-believe-access-to-education-should-depend-on-the-ability-to-learn/1279309497352513

Broader Participation (Especially via Colleges)

• Increased applications/participation post-fee abolition (24% rise in Scotland vs. drop in England):
  • Vox citing Filipa Sá research: https://www.vox.com/2015/10/22/9592460/college-tuition-free-scotland
• College routes key for disadvantaged growth (90% of disadvantaged entry growth via sub-degree college programs; broader tertiary inclusion):
  • Sutton Trust report on access in Scotland (higher overall HE participation including colleges, though university gaps persist): https://www.suttontrust.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Access-in-Scotland_May2016.pdf
  • Royal Society of Edinburgh on tertiary funding (colleges critical for social mobility, inclusion, skills, and economic prosperity): https://rse.org.uk/programme/advice-paper/funding-of-tertiary-education-in-scotland-report

Societal Ethos of Education as a Right / Social Contract

• Free tuition as part of devolution’s “social contract” (ability to learn, not pay; commitment to equity/access):
  • King’s College London on number controls and free HE: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/the-cost-of-free-higher-education-university-number-controls-in-scotland
  • Wonkhe / Carnegie Trust on free fees as hallmark of modern Scotland and social contract: https://wonkhe.com/blogs/tuition-fees-are-a-social-contract-with-small-print (or similar Carnegie link)

Net Positives for Social Cohesion, Mental Health, and Consumption-Driven Growth

• Mental health / wellbeing links (lower debt reduces stress; fee relief aids affordability/mental relief, though living costs remain):
  • Scottish Government Student Finance and Wellbeing Study (broader financial experiences, relief from fees): https://www.gov.scot/publications/student-finance-wellbeing-study-sfws-scotland-2023-2024-main-report/pages/18
  • Inferred from debt comparisons (lower burdens enable better mental health outcomes vs. high-debt systems): https://www.gov.scot/publications/literature-review-student-finance-wellbeing-study-scotland-2023-24/pages/7
• Consumption / flexible contribution (lower debt supports earlier milestones like homeownership/family, freer career choices including lower-paid public service roles):
  • Political/government statements (graduates better off for building futures without debt burden): https://www.facebook.com/ChristineGrahameMSP/posts/in-scotland-we-believe-access-to-education-should-depend-on-the-ability-to-learn/1279309497352513
  • Broader economic framing (education investment for societal wellbeing, growth via skilled workforce): https://rse.org.uk/programme/advice-paper/funding-of-tertiary-education-in-scotland-report

These sources provide a mix of empirical data (debt levels, participation trends) and policy/qualitative insights (ethos, relief, societal benefits). Some critiques note regressive elements or funding strains, but the positives on debt reduction and access ethos are consistently highlighted in pro-policy sources.

Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotland

Click on the above.