A study of the impact of increased tuition fees in England on the decision to participate in Higher Education Seminar

The paper reports a study of 17-year-old students in the UK making decisions about going to university during a period of turbulent policy change regarding the increase in tuition fees. It was a time when clear information and guidance about the impact of fees was either not available or emerging during the period of research.

Thirteen students were interviewed (an additional five in a focus group) and 615 students surveyed in southern England in the summer of 2011. This talk will explore their thinking and decision-making processes.