Two-year degree plan to cut cost of tuition fees

Instead of studying for three years, at 30 weeks a year, the government wants more universities to provide fast-track courses with degrees taught in two years with 45 weeks of studying.

These shorter, more intensive courses would mean savings of about £5,500 in tuition fees and a year's worth of accommodation and living costs. The Universities Minister Sam Gyimah thinks it’ll particularly help to reverse the decline in the number of mature students.

Even though the overall cost would be lower than studying for three years, each year would have tuition fees equivalent to about £11,000 per year - above the current maximum limit of 9,250. Such a change of the fee system would have to be approved by Parliament and that could prove a significant stumbling block.