University Complaints Increase by 25%

The number of complaints made by students about their universities have soared by 25% this year. The rise is believed to be due to a demand in 'value for money', the quality of teaching and allegations of plagiarism. Over 900 complaints were made to the Officer of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education. The rise of tuition fees to £3,000 that was introduced in 2006 is also being blamed for the rise, as students seek to ensure they are getting the best for their money.

So are we really becoming more tight with our wallets? According to a survey by the UK Youth Parliament, yes, as a third of students say they will base their university choice on cost above anything else - many opting for cheaper options during the recession. This has meant that many have chosen to study near home so as not to travel away, to cut costs even further. The simplest solution should be a part time job - 90% of students have considered this, but with the struggles created by the recession 60% feel they will struggle to get one. The UK Youth Parliament has launched a promotional leaflet called 'Access Denied' in a bid to promote the severity of the financial problems which can be downloaded here.