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<p>Taxpayers subsidise around 50% of the cost of higher education. The cost of the
student finance system is a function of 3 main parameters: (i) the number of students
supported, (ii) the level of resource per student and (iii) the terms of the funding
(for example the balance of loan vs. grant funding) provided to students and institutions.
Changing any of these parameters, for example by reintroducing maintenance grants,
will require changes either or both of the other 2 if the outcome is to be cost neutral.</p><p>The
Institute for Fiscal Studies has recently published illustrative estimates of the
potential cost to HM Treasury of abolishing tuition fees. This can be found here:
<a href="https://www.ifs.org.uk/publications/14369" target="_blank">https://www.ifs.org.uk/publications/14369</a>.</p>
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