The chief executive of the Russell Group, Libby Hackett, says universities should be able to charge students more in some cases, while other courses that serve the public should cost less. She highlights differences between degree types, pointing to professions such as nursing and teaching as examples of subjects that benefit society and could be priced more affordably.
The comments reported across outlets frame the proposal as a way to align tuition fees with the perceived value or societal contribution of different courses. While the coverage centers on the idea that selective courses may carry different costs, the reporting does not present a single agreed mechanism for how such fee changes would be implemented, or how regulators and government would respond. The story focuses mainly on Hackett’s position as head of the group representing leading research universities.
Overall, the outlets agree on the core message: Hackett argues for flexibility in university charging, with some programmes potentially becoming more expensive and others cheaper based on their broader public impact.
