It says something about the state of British higher education when the government starts floating the idea that failing universities might be forced to charge lower fees. Once unthinkable, it now feels inevitable. Too many institutions are teetering on the brink, too many courses are being axed and too many graduates are asking: what’s the point of going to university?

Campuses are quietly shrinking. Some 43 per cent of institutions expect to be in deficit this year, rising to more than 70 per cent by 2026. Many universities are already making deep cuts, with a quarter reducing staff to balance the books. Since tuition fees were capped at £9,250 in 2017, inflation has eaten away their real value by almost 30 per cent.

Meanwhile, international students now account for nearly one in five of all undergraduates. Many institutions rely on their higher fees to survive, a system many describe as “unsustainable”, particularly given........

© iNews