David Willetts Introduction
Our university sector has a proud history and a world-class reputation, attracting students from across the world. Higher education is a successful public-private partnership: Government funding and institutional autonomy. This White Paper builds on that record, while doing more than ever to put students in the driving seat.
Students’ discussion forum (external)
Welcome to this site
The White Paper consultation, ‘Students at the Heart of the System’ closed on 20 September. Over 200 responses were received and in addition comments were posted here on the consultation website and on a Student Room discussion forum. At the same time the Department published a consultation on potential early repayment mechanisms for student loans which closed on 20 September. 153 responses were received.
The Department also published on 4 August a technical consultation document ‘A new fit for purpose regulatory framework for the higher education sector’. This consultation closed on 27 October. Over 150 responses were received.
The response to the early repayment consultation was announced on 23 February 2012. There will be no early repayment mechanism or charge for early repayment of student loans.
We will publish a single response in due course covering the remaining issues on which we consulted. The response will include a list of respondents and a summary of responses for each of the consultations.
The Government has now published its Higher Education White Paper, Students at the Heart of the System. The proposals outlined in the White Paper represent a radical reform of higher education in England and for that reason it is important that all interested parties have an opportunity to comment on our proposals. Through this website you can scroll through the text of the White Paper and comment on the proposals outlined in each chapter, or email more detailed comments.
We are also running a series of more detailed consultations on early repayment, and the new regulatory framework, as reform in these areas could lead to changes to primary legislation. HEFCE are consulting on the allocation of teaching grant and implementing new student number controls for 2012/13. This consultation will soon be available on their website.
Consultation Timetable
- 28/06/11 White Paper published
- 28/06/11 Early Repayment consultation launches
- 30/06/11 HEFCE Teaching Funding & Student Number Controls consultation launches
- 04/08/11 Regulatory Framework consultation launches
- 2/09/11 HEFCE consultation closes
- 20/09/11 White Paper consultation closes
- 20/09/11 Early Repayment consultation closes
- 27/10/11 Regulatory Framework consultation closes
NEW: Technical Consultation
This consultation has now closed; the Government will respond in due course.
White Paper
Click here to read the full text of the White Paper and comment on the proposals
White Paper Chapters
Early Repayment
This consultation has now closed.The Government response was issued on 23 February 2012.
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What others have said
- Anna commented about Early Repayment"If the government wants to put the student at the heart of Higher Education, it needs to recognise the value of choice. Students should have the ch…"
- Graeme Hood commented about Early Repayment"Question 1- Should BIS introduce a more progressive mechanism for early repayment of student loans? No. Any system designed to prevent graduates f…"
- Hugh Sullivan commented about A better student experience and better-qualified graduates"Section 3.27 starts with the phrase: “Higher education is a good thing in itself.” As this suggests, higher education has an intrinsic social va…"
- liz watts commented about Sustainable and fair funding"What makes the loan difficult to payback is its continual growth with interest; for someone who will eventually pay it all off anyway the more of it …"
- Chris Smith commented about Early Repayment"Banning early repayment is fundamentally illiberal. I say that as a father of 4 teenagers and an activist and member of the Lib Dems. My one support …"
