I'm no longer in uni but had loans (and a small grant) to cover everything (fees, living etc). I feel that repaying the debt doesn't actually impact on my life too much on a day-to-day basis.
Having said all of that I have some comparisons:
- My sister is older and was eligible for full grants when she went to uni. She left with about £3,000 debt which is now paid off.
- When I went to uni the loans system had just been put into action. My student loan came to around £30,000 in total which I expect to pay off the rest of my life.
- Now my boyfriend wasn't eligible for full grants or loans as his family income was in the higher bracket. He is one of 6 and his family couldn't afford to cover his living costs or fees so he was forced to drop out of uni in his 2nd year. He is still paying back his student loan.
So although I said above that on a day-to-day basis I don't feel the impact, over my lifetime I definitely will have. And, what's more, I feel the system that is in place is, or at least was, flawed.
I personally believe that university should be free in all cases (unless there is a special exception ie the course is highly specialised and is guaranteed to open up a particular pathway). In the very least I think reform of the current process is essential and I'm not sure that reform in this direction is the right answer.