I am filled with admiration for the SNP's decision to scrap the tuition fee for all EU students in Scotland... except for the English who will still have to pay.
It's not the free tuition that I admire - the debate about funding is largely over and most people now accept that pay as you go HE is the only sensible way forward. (The fact that only the Lib Dems and the SNP seriously advocate anything else speaks volumes!)
What I really admire is the SNP's political strategy. Clearly resigned to the fact that an overwhelming proportion of Scots would vote against independence in a referendum, they have decided to irritate the English into starting divorce proceedings. Free university tuition and free prescriptions, paid for out of the grant from Westminster, are just the opening salvos in a long war of attrition. The question is, who will blink first?
The Commentrarian has got this wrong. This isn't the SNP trying to annoy the English... they actually believe in this. Possibly also the Liberal Democrats, although it may just be coincidental that they do disproportionately well in terms of votes and seats in University towns. And ditto the Greens, whose support will be needed to get this through Parliament.
There are three things wrong with the SNP's approach.
1. It will harm the long-term competitiveness of Scottish universities. The Scottish public purse will not be able to afford to match the funding levels which English universities will have from top-up fees, even more so when the cap is lifted.
2. It will reduce student flows into/out of Scotland. Scots residents will be encouraged to opt for (cheaper) Scottish universities. Tuition fees for residents from the rest of the UK will have to be increased to stop them flooding into Scottish universities seeking cheaper education. Reduced diversity of student population within the UK is bad for the UK as a whole, but it will have greatest impact in Scotland.
3. They fail to recognise that the UK remains a single market. Scotland can't be too different from the rest of the UK without consequences.
Posted by: HE Manager | Monday, 18 June 2007 at 20:02
Under devolution Scotland can decide what education policies it thinks are best, and Westminster, and indeed th English press, is wrong to moan that English tax is paying for this. The amount of money making its way up north remains the same, it is simply how it is spent that has changed. I admire the SNP for wanting to make Higher Education as accessible as possible, despite of the difficulties it may pose for university funding. May I add that more students from disadvantaged backgrounds receive a university education in Scotland than anywhere else in the UK? Scotland must be doing something right.
Posted by: Mariken Schipper | Friday, 22 June 2007 at 15:48
Good day,
My name is lekan and i will be glad only if you can send me any free tuition university in uk.....thanks
Posted by: LEKAN SAMUEL | Tuesday, 16 September 2008 at 19:58
My name is maxwell and i will be glad only if you can send me any free tuition university in uk.....thanks
Posted by: maxwell poaraku chigozie | Tuesday, 23 September 2008 at 05:30
hi am derek offei from ghana and i will be glad if you can send me a free university school in scotland because my mother is a single parent and can not pay for my fee and even cannot provide for the family i will be most geatful if you can help get my free university in scotland.thank you and hope to hear from you soon.
Posted by: derek | Tuesday, 23 September 2008 at 19:06
hi my name is wisdom im from nigeria my parents can't afford to pay tuition fees 4 me so i'll be most greatful if im offered admission in a tuition free university in scotland.thank u and GOD BLESS
Posted by: wisdom | Friday, 10 October 2008 at 13:24
Can you afford to send me schools in UK that are tuition free in UK, expectially in Ukraine, Canada, London and Holand. thanks.
Posted by: OLORUNTOBA TAIWO | Friday, 10 October 2008 at 19:45
I want to get links and info on how i can schòol in ukraine for free.
Posted by: Bright | Saturday, 18 October 2008 at 00:36
i want to school in a tuition free university in scotland please help me out on how to go about it
Posted by: bright chinule | Saturday, 18 October 2008 at 16:59
i am franklin as seen above,being bilingual, i am a cameroonian by nationality.i would very much love to school in tuition free university in ukraine but i don't know how to go about it.So how i wise you guys help out.
Posted by: CHU NDZE FRANKLIN | Sunday, 19 October 2008 at 11:00
Furnish me with list of Universities that offers free tuition fee in scotland.
Posted by: Johnson Goodhope N. | Thursday, 23 October 2008 at 13:17
i am martin areh from nigeria.heaven and earth knows that i will be very much love and proud,if i school in tuition free university education in scotland.please to whom it may concine pls help me out to work for it.thanks
Posted by: areh martin | Tuesday, 28 October 2008 at 14:00
Iam arthur areh,i would be very much proud and happy to school in tuition free unversity education in scotland.nationality:nigeria
Posted by: Areh arthur | Tuesday, 28 October 2008 at 14:19
Iam arthur areh,i would be very much proud and happy to school in tuition free unversity education in scotland.nationality:nigeria
Posted by: Areh arthur | Tuesday, 28 October 2008 at 14:24
Iam arthur areh,i would be very much proud and happy to school in tuition free unversity education in scotland.nationality:nigeria
Posted by: Areh arthur | Tuesday, 28 October 2008 at 14:32
I am a student of Dhaka university,studying in the department of Women and Gender studies in Bangladesh.I really want to finish my MSS in scotland.But you know Bangladesh is a poor country.I manage my own finance.So if you give me an oppourtunity to study in tuition free,i will really make you proud by my result.
Posted by: sonia | Saturday, 01 November 2008 at 05:42
I am a student of Dhaka university,studying in the department of Women and Gender studies in Bangladesh.I really want to finish my MSS in scotland.But you know Bangladesh is a poor country.I manage my own finance.So if you give me an oppourtunity to study in tuition free,i will really make you proud by my result.
Posted by: sonia | Saturday, 01 November 2008 at 05:44
i want to know university in school in scotland, where i could learn for free, because i cant afford to spend a large sum of money :) i gave money enough, bet i dont want to spend it because i think, that ist necessary. please give me any information. thanks ;)
Posted by: justina | Saturday, 01 November 2008 at 18:44
i want to know university in school in scotland, where i could learn for free, because i cant afford to spend a large sum of money :) i gave money enough, bet i dont want to spend it because i think, that ist necessary. please give me any information. thanks ;)
Posted by: justina | Saturday, 01 November 2008 at 18:46
jezus, how much misstakes i did ;D now i wrote without them :)i want to know about university in scotland, where i could learn for free, because i cant afford to spend a large sum of money :) i have money enough, but i dont want to spend it because i think, that isnt necessary. please give me any information. thanks ;)
Posted by: justina | Saturday, 01 November 2008 at 18:49
I WISH MANNA CAN DROP ME INTO FREE SCHOOL IN SCOTLAND TO STUDY GEO INFOMATICS.THANKS
Posted by: Akere jola Bamidele Michael | Wednesday, 05 November 2008 at 13:56
kindly give me necessary information to safeguard my interest in pursuit my masters education in scotland and easy link of studying Law at cradle.
Posted by: olorunsomo lanre omotayo | Wednesday, 05 November 2008 at 14:00
hii.. sir/madam
can you give details of free tution fee universites inuk
Posted by: kiran | Wednesday, 05 November 2008 at 16:56
Can i get the website of the tuition free university in Scotland.
Thanks
Posted by: Temitope | Tuesday, 11 November 2008 at 10:24
I would very much desire to study in the UK but am always limited by resources.I will very much be glad if assisted.Am a 21year old Ugandan,a high school graduate with very good grades.
Posted by: ANDREW BULUBA | Monday, 17 November 2008 at 09:11