The drop in university applications is cause for concern, argues Yasmin Morgan-Griffiths

It’s safe to say that the majority of the student body feels cheated by the coalition and particularly the Lib Dems whom we supported so hopefully in the 2010 elections as our only hope of defence against the consequences of education cuts. For some time now, the speculative future of higher education has been characterised by a number of words beginning with the letter that commonly denotes a mediocre grade: that is, Disorientation, Dissatisfaction, and Disappointment.

Recent news that the number of university applications has declined by 13 per cent this year in comparison with 2010 figures has been attributed to school leavers’ attempts last year to get in before the extortionate fees, which will be in effect from the beginning of next academic year. The troubling issue now is what impact the tuition fee rises of up to £9000 will have on future university applications.

Some might argue that the reduced number of applications is a positive statistic, that the effect of this will be to sift out those who are pursuing ‘less valuable’ degrees, the less academically able, as well as dithering potential applicants who are not sure if university is the right path for them, but are feeling under pressure from societal or parental expectations. A factor which makes students think twice before rushing into a decision which will affect their career path is not entirely negative. Less competition for places on high demand courses and reducing overcrowding in the most prestigious academic institutions may be the silver lining for those who are desperate for a place and are have a clear goal in mind.

However, it is ridiculous to discriminate between ‘useful’ and ‘useless’ degrees; the ongoing debate about the comparative value of science and arts degrees has been a source of irritation for many students ever since the question of rising fees became an issue. People studying arts develop skills which are radically different from those doing a science degree, becoming suited to professions unsuitable for those from a solely scientific background. Diversity is essential in a job market which is becoming almost impossibly competitive; we certainly don’t want to see a generation of graduates dominated by a single discipline, when government funding for humanities is stopped.

What is more, social mobility will be hindered due to students from less affluent families choosing universities charging lower fees over institutions which are considered to be higher quality and therefore able to charge more. We are also likely to see a higher number of applicants choosing degrees which entitle them to bursaries rather than those which best suit their passions and aptitudes. As a result, many people will rack up a huge amount of debt even with bursaries only to realise that they would prefer to pursue a completely different career path requiring yet more expensive qualifications.

The prospect of such enormous financial strain is sure to be a discouragement to even the majority of bright, enthusiastic young people who are sure they have made the right choice of university and degree. Students going to universities that have chosen to charge the maximum fee level are predicted to graduate with £43,000 of debt. Students will have to make repayments after their studies only when they are on a salary of at least £25,000, and the government claims the lowest-earning 25 per cent of graduates will pay less in total than with the previous system. Even so, with house prices rising, the number of jobs available declining, the Eurozone in a crisis, yet another UK recession predicted next year and taxes rising, people will see no other alternative but to sacrifice their opportunities and rights to higher education.

While education should be a fundamental right, the money has to come from somewhere. Equal rights should also mean an equal price in this case, but fees are waived altogether for EU students and home students in Scotland due to EU law. Would Edinburgh need to raise its fees so drastically if everyone paid an equal amount? Edinburgh is set to raise its tuition fees to the maximum for students elsewhere in the UK, while those protected by EU law contribute nothing to alleviate the burdens imposed by the education cuts. 16,000 EU students took up places at institutions in Scotland last year, doubling the figures from the previous year and costing universities nearly £75m.

Either way, the prestige and diversity of the UK’s once admirable higher education system are under threat from the effects of the education cuts, and by choosing to charge astronomical fees, many universities will simply fail to make the grade for the next generation of potential applicants.