Will Scott

These are important as I'm doing the most expensive subject (in terms of real tuition costs) and one of the two most expensive universities in the country. My debt scares me. If variable tuition fees were brought in then I would end up paying the highest rate. My parents' income falls just outside the bracket which would give me government support.

There are inherent issues with a graduate tax. Yes, the prospect of a brain drain is an important factor. But, from my understanding of the way that the current repayment system works, this is just as much of an issue now.

To be brutally honest, the main change here is semantic. Currently you have money taken from your pay until you pay off your debt (+ interest). Under this plan, you would have money taken from your pay for a fixed period of time, proportional to your wages. This means that those in higher paid positions - like Doctors and Lawyers pay more and those in research posts pay less. This makes the system fairer without unfairly penalising people based on the university they went to (something I'd rather avoid).

I accept that I'd probably pay more than under the current system. That's fine by me - as the amount I pay is bound by my success in my career. If I benefit more from my degree, I pay more.

I'd like to hope that it'd also go further to dissuade people from doing 'weak' degrees. I'm a strong believer in vocational courses for relevant subjects rather than unnecessary degrees. If they'd be subject to tax proportional to final income then 1) it'd cost them more than currently (due to the gov't not needing to waive tuition fees based on parental income) and 2) universities would have less incentive to offer the courses as they'd get less money for their students.

This strikes me as being an important step. Funding wouldn't be judged on your past, your background and your parents' income - it'd be based on your success, the value of your degree and your future earnings. That's an improvement as far as I'm concerned.

NOTE: The full details of the plan and the level of the proposed tax are yet to be announced by the coalition, nor is this a final principle. I reserve the right to chance my mind as more details become apparent. After all, that's the beauty of logical argument.

NOTE: This does not in any way reflect an official view as part of my role on the JCR of Queens' College, Cambridge and is not to be taken or quoted as such.

I'll post a follow up to this as and when.