Warwick SU successfully halt belated tuition fee rise for 16/17 students

The SU have successfully stopped the proposed fee increase for the 2016 freshers and returning students, which means that the fees will remain at £9000 for the coming year.

In a statement released by the SU, they said: “The Students’ Union was appalled when, at the start of September, the University signaled its intention to raise 2016-17 tuition fees for both incoming and returning undergraduates.

“Despite being cited as “in line with inflation”, the proposed increase mirrored similar price-hikes introduced at institutions around the country, and was entirely at the University’s own discretion. Prior to its announcement, at no point were Sabbatical Officers or members of the student body consulted regarding this decision.”

After immediate pressure from the Sabbatical Officer team, the proposed increase has been halted. However, they weren’t able to prevent fees being raised for next year’s incoming students, and these will now increase to £9,250 for first year students in the 17/18 academic year.

The SU added: “This sadly does not represent a victory in any meaningful sense. Clearly, if allowed to go unchallenged, such actions set an alarming precedent for future years, while offering yet another stark glimpse into the creeping marketisation of Higher Education proposed by the government’s recent HE Bill.

“Nonetheless, this win shows the power of students’ unions and how crucial it is that we stand up and challenge the University on these key issues. We cannot rely on institutions to make these changes out of their own goodwill – we have to continue to exert pressure wherever and whenever damaging decisions are being made.”