Opinion

Those bludging uni students

Are university students really just worthless dole bludgers?

Several articles on the country's HECS debt were in the news last week, revealing students owed the federal government $22 billion in university loans and fees.

This attracted plenty of criticism online, with many likening uni students to welfare cheats, dole bludgers and gambling addicts.

Common arguments were that students racked up big bills by constantly changing their courses, while others were simply "professional students" who completed one course after the other without entering the job force. Online commenters also took aim at students who ventured overseas after uni, avoiding HECS repayments.

Many took the opportunity to blame international students, saying they got their degrees in Australia before fleeing to their home countries without paying back a cent. Never mind that international students aren't actually eligible for HECS - or that they contributed $11.7 billion to the Australian economy in 2006-07.

As for those students who do receive HECS, it's ridiculous to suggest uni is some type of working holiday that allows them to live large on the taxpayer's dollar.

Despite what many commenters believe, uni is a lot of hard work. Even those who "just want to pass'' find there's a big workload involved. I don't think anyone could put in the hours and make the sacrifices necessary to earn a degree without strong goals, ambition and a solid work ethic. The same can't be said of your average dole bludger.

It's true that some people cheat the system by moving overseas. Others change courses multiple times as they struggle to figure out what they want to do - rarely thinking about the rising HECS bill.

But would that really justify restricting university opportunities for all Australians?

Posted By: Aaron Lakin on 8/02/2012 9:28:00 AM | Comments (9)

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Date: Newest first | Oldest first

There are professional students at university, but the majority of people like myself would not be able to get a university degree without it. It took me 5 years to pay it off when I started working. Maybe a cap on how many degrees or dollar value....may reduce the total costs.

Posted by Mark, 8/02/2012 9:54:33 AM, on The Examiner

Also notice how many of those commentators, who obviously haven't been to uni' themselves, seem to think that all uni' students automatically get Austudy payments ~ whereas, the plain fact is that less than half of all domestic uni' students get extra welfare ~ and less than 25% are on FULL Austudy payments...

Posted by Bovver boy, 8/02/2012 12:30:11 PM, on The Examiner

The government has got the HECS system wrong. Why not reward those that use their degree and get a job with a discount if they use the degree they studdied. once they have worked for a period and have paid of a percentage the some of the debt could be written off. this would encourage others to use the degree they have studied for. Why are they also letting someone reenrol for another degree on a HECS basis. Either they pay for the second degree or get out and work .... gaurentee this will reduce the debt.

Posted by whatthe, 8/02/2012 12:50:07 PM, on The Examiner

This may be a little off track but if the Government want to reduce the HECS bill, then why have they reduced the upfront payment discount for students?Wouldn't it make more sense to make the carrot larger, not smaller? It used to be 20% which encouraged students to pay up front and thereby avoid racking up a HECS debt, but as of this year that has been slashed by 50%. Where is the incentive? My units this year cost $2200 EACH - and that is suposedly with 'Commonwealth support'. I have to tell you, I'm seriously thinking of putting it on FEE HELP this year. You cant have it both ways!

Posted by WorkingANDStudying, 8/02/2012 2:09:48 PM, on The Examiner

There is already a cap on the amount of HECS HELP you can receive, international students all pay upfront and without them, most unis would not be able to afford domestic students. Austudy is less than the dole and you have to work for it. If you fail, you don't get Austudy and your uni will kick you out, surprisingly quickly. Many people change courses because they discover that the degree is useless and won't get them a job in the real world. For those who are whinging: if you don't know how the system works, don't complain about it.

Posted by beck, 8/02/2012 4:53:06 PM, on The Examiner

I did architecture, a 5 year course at uni and now have a $35,000 HELP (!?!) debt. I contributed massive hours and considerable amounts of my own money to support my studies.

As an architect, it will take about 8-10 years for my wage to reach the Australian average. This means that i have spent 15 years getting into a position where i can start to repay the debt.

I should have just stayed a carpenter.

I'd be about $800,000 in front of where i am now. There is no value placed on education in Australia. This country is a balance sheet and that is why it will never be a serious global player.

Posted by Paul Coffey, 8/02/2012 10:12:11 PM, on The Examiner

What about user pays then that would make a huge difference to these individuals who bludge the system to death, why should us taxpayers have to foot the bill, for their so called education, just another hand out going to waste, the money would be better spent in the health system.

Posted by PB, 9/02/2012 1:36:39 AM, on The Examiner

Maybe this lays lie to the claim that a university education improves your job prospects? Maybe it says something about the way our society values some jobs (health, welfare, arts) compared to others (suing people, shuffling digits over the interwebs, ripping off workers). If we valued these less valuable skills more, they'd be able to pay off their debt.

Posted by Ken Davis, 9/02/2012 9:27:06 AM, on The Examiner

Not to mention the recruitment grounds for the foot soldiers of the environmental protest movement...which equates to Taxpayer funded brainwashing.

Posted by scrutinize the greenies, 11/02/2012 12:48:54 PM, on The Examiner