What are the biggest political parties promising for students?

Ahead of the upcoming general election on 4 July 2024, political parties have released their manifestos, including the student-focused policies that they promise to implement.

As university students across the UK prepare to cast their vote, it is important that they know how each party’s planned policies will affect their time at university, and the university experience for future students.

The Labour Party, who currently lead the election polls, has a section of their manifesto titled ‘Breaking down barriers to opportunity’, within this section are the planned education policies of the party.

One of the key Labour policies that has made headlines for months, is their plan to remove the charity status of private schools, meaning that these schools will begin to pay tax. Their manifesto states that the money earned by the government from this change will be used to recruit and pay for thousands of new state school teachers. Additionally, Labour will implement a post-16 skills strategy to improve the way that students move between different stages of their education.

Reading Labour’s manifesto highlights education policies that predominantly focus on schools and post-16 study. Their few plans for higher education are vague.

The [Conservative] party have promised those who will still be attending university that they will ensure they have the contact hours promised, and that all exams and coursework is marked

The party aims to support the “aspiration of every person who meets the requirements and wants to go to university”. They also aim to create “a secure future for higher education” and work alongside universities to “deliver” for students and the economy. Their plans for students of younger ages will improve access to university and therefore increase opportunity.

Currently sitting behind the Labour party in the polls are the Conservatives. This party is proposing policies which will alter university for many.

The Conservatives’ most shocking policy for students is their plan to close English university courses with the worst outcomes, these are courses with high drop-out rates or those that would leave students in a worse position than if they had not attended university. In stopping universities from taking students for these courses, they aim to protect students from being mis-sold.

This change would lead to less young people attending university, and the money the government would earn from this would be spent on creating 100,000 more apprenticeships annually.

The party have promised those who will still be attending university that they will ensure they have the contact hours promised, and that all exams and coursework is marked.

Within the education section of the Conservative manifesto, the party emphasise what they have already done for students; stating they have “reformed student loans” to ensure that no one will pay back more than what they borrowed, in real terms.

Reform UK have built on their critique of certain university courses by saying that they will stop the backdoor route to immigration through “low quality degree courses”

For adults who are seeking further education, the Conservatives would deliver the Lifelong Learning Entitlement. This would provide the opportunity for adults to train and retrain at any point in their careers. From next year, applications for loans would open, and this money would cover these new qualifications.

Like the Conservatives, Reform UK have numerous plans for universities. Reform UK’s policies are outlined in what they call “Our Contract” which is divided into the changes they will make in their first 100 days, and those that would come thereafter.

In their first 100 days, Reform UK would scrap interest on student loans and extend loan capital repayment periods to 45 years. Furthermore, they will restrict undergraduate numbers as “too many courses are not good enough”. To do this, they will enforce minimum entry standards. This policy resembles the Conservative party’s plan to close certain university courses, however, Reform UK have built on their critique of certain university courses by saying that they will stop the backdoor route to immigration through “low-quality degree courses”.

After the above changes have been made in the party’s first 100 days in government, they will make further edits to universities. Firstly, they will cut funding to universities that undermine free speech, as they believe that institutions allowing bias and cancel culture must face consequences. They will also ensure that universities provide 2-year undergraduate courses so that students can enter employment earlier and have less student debt.

Like Labour, the Green Party mainly looks at education in schools ; the party wants to end high-stakes testing in both primary and secondary education

One aspect of Reform UK’s “Contract” which reflects Labour’s manifesto is their focus on schools. In their first 100 days, the party has pledged to make drastic changes to the school curriculum. They have stated that they will create a patriotic curriculum and that they will ban transgender ideology in primary and secondary schools.

“A Fairer, Greener, Education System” is part of the Green Party’s manifesto focusing on education. As Reform UK plans to, the Green Party also intends to abolish tuition fees. In addition to this, they will restore grants to create a higher education system which is more accessible and supports all students.

Like Labour, the Green Party mainly looks at education in schools (key stage 4 and below); the party wants to end high-stakes testing in both primary and secondary education.

The Liberal Democrats manifesto contains a detailed section on universities. The party would “safeguard the future of our world-leading universities and the wellbeing of every student” by delivering on 7 points.

A further aspect of universities that was missed by other parties was addressed by the Liberal Democrats; the party want to support science, research and innovation in universities

They will establish a review of higher education finance and report international student flows separately to estimates of long-term migration. Additionally, they aim to widen participation and return to the Erasmus Plus programme by becoming an associated country. This change would help those taking a year abroad.

The Liberal Democrats have a focus on student wellbeing which was overlooked by the other key parties. They would give higher education institutions a statutory duty of care and introduce a statutory Student Mental Health Charter which would require universities to make mental health services accessible to all students.

A further aspect of universities that was missed by other parties was addressed by the Liberal Democrats: the party wants to support science, research and innovation in universities. To do this, they will continue to participate in Horizon Europe and join the European Innovation Council.

By taking a look at the education sections of each of the biggest party’s manifestos it is evident that they all take different stances on higher education. While the Green Party and Labour Party have brief proposals for education, the Conservatives, Reform UK, and the Liberal Democrats have more in-depth policy ideas which would, in some cases, drastically change the university experience for many.