Press Release: Student support crucial for offsetting impact of university tuition fees, says report

When balanced with student support, increased tuition fees do not have an overall negative impact on enrolments in higher education, even among students from lower socio-economic groups, unless the magnitude of change is exceptional. However increases in fees can result in falling enrolments among older students, according to an international study released by the European Commission on 23 June 2014. The report underlines that grants and/or loans are crucial for offsetting negative consequences of fees or fee rises on university enrolments, particularly from vulnerable groups.

The Commission-funded study, carried out by independent researchers, analysed the impact of changes in student fees in nine countries with different models of funding over the past 15 years (Austria, Canada, UK-England, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Portugal and South Korea).

ESO: Background information: Report reveals wide fluctuations in cost of higher education and support for students http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-report-reveals-wide-fluctuations-in-cost-of-higher-education-and-support-for-students/

European Commission: Education and training: Do changes in cost-sharing have an impact on the behaviour of students and higher education institutions? http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/education_culture/repository/education/library/study/2014/cost-sharing/comparative-report_en.pdf

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