Cost is the big deterrent for would-be students

Survey finds those from poorer backgrounds are likely to have a poorer experience, writes Rebecca Attwood

The cost of going to university is the number-one deterrent for people who apply to but do not enter higher education, a study tracking thousands of students has found.

Futuretrack is following the "Class of 2009" over five years, from when they apply to university until two years after they graduate. Only the National Student Survey is bigger, but Futuretrack is the most detailed, asking participants more than 300 questions.

Findings from the second phase, show that among students who applied to but did not enter higher education, cost was the biggest factor. Almost 40 per cent were put off by the cost, and 32 per cent were put off by the prospect of incurring debt... read more

THE, November 09