Press release - 17 January 2013 10:17

REPORT HIGHLIGHTS BENEFITS OF HIGHER EDUCATION FOR INDIVIDUAL AND GOVERNMENT, SAYS NUS

Responding to a report published today (Thursday) by Million+ the National Union of Students (NUS) said that the government needed to recognise the wide ranging economic benefits of higher education.

The report entitled ‘What’s the value of a UK degree?’ finds that not only is an undergraduate degree worth an additional £115,000 in earnings to the individual (and £59,000 more than that for those with a Master’s degree) but that a drop in student numbers would cost the treasury at least £6.6billion for each cohort of 30,000 lost.

Toni Pearce, NUS Deputy President, said:

“The government has to recognise that investment in higher education is just that - investment with very real financial rewards for the state, the individual and wider society as well as the great cultural benefits that come with advanced learning.

“Higher tuition fees are putting capable students’ off going to university and many students are struggling to cover living costs when they are. This leads to increased anxiety for students which can affect their study and make them consider curtailing their studies.

“The economic benefits of post-graduate study are clear and the government must address a crisis in support for those continuing beyond undergraduate level, or only the richest students will be able to access highly valuable training and education.”

NUS’ ‘The Pound in Your Pocket’ report, released in December 2012, is a comprehensive analysis of student finances and the demonstrates the impact of money worries on ability to study. The full report is available from www.poundinyourpocket.org.uk

Topics

Education

Regions

England

NUS (National Union of Students) is a voluntary membership organisation which makes a real difference to the lives of students and its member students' unions.

We are a confederation of 600 students' unions, amounting to more than 95 per cent of all higher and further education unions in the UK. Through our member students' unions, we represent the interests of more than seven million students.

Contacts

Will Hoyles

Press contact NUS UK Press Officer will.hoyles@nus.org.uk 07866 695010

Alex Jones

Press contact Press and Public Affairs Manager alex.jones@nus.org.uk

Mike Heffron

Press contact NUS Scotland Campaigns and Communications Officer mike.heffron@nus-scotland.org.uk 07554 451941

Joni Alexander

Press contact NUS Wales Campaigns and Communications Officer joni.alexander@nus-wales.org.uk 07966 102363

Ian Williamson

Press contact NUS-USI (Northern Ireland) Policy and Public Affairs Officer ian.williamson@nistudents.org 028 9024 4641

NUS UK Switchboard

Press contact 0845 5210 262

GRANT LETTER IS ‘REARRANGING THE DECKCHAIRS’ SAYS NUS

The National Union of Students (NUS) has today said that small improvements to the higher education funding system announced in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) ministers’ letter to the Higher Education Funding Council of England (HEFCE) do not solve the wider problems created by government changes to how universities are funded.

22 November 2012 17:41

NUS CALLS FOR NEW LOANS SYSTEM FOR POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS

The National Union of Students (NUS) has today launched its proposals for three different systems of loans targeted at the poorest and most talented postgraduate students.

30 January 2013 16:51

NUS RESPONDS TO LATEST UCAS APPLICATION FIGURES

The National Union of Students (NUS) has today welcomed indications from UCAS that university applications are starting to recover after the significant drop following the trebling of the tuition fee cap. However the union warned the government not to be complacent about the impacts of its changes on students and universities.