Who will be hit first?
Fifteen-year-olds now in the first year of their GCSE courses will be the first to face the fees when they are introduced in 2006.

Will students have to pay anything to enter university?
No. The upfront fee of £1,100 will be scrapped in 2006.

Who will be entitled to a government grant?
From September 2004, any student whose parents earn less than £10,000 will get a £1,000 grant, with a proportion paid to those from families with incomes under £20,000.

How many students will benefit?
The Government estimates that 30per cent of undergraduates, or 100,000 students each year, will get some financial aid.

How big will my debt be?
Depends on the fee for the course you pick. Most can expect debts of about £15,000. Many will graduate £21,000 in the red.

How will I apply for a grant?
Most likely through your local education authority, although the Government is experimenting with online applications.

How will I apply for my student loan?
Through the Student Loans Company, as now.

When will I have to start repaying my debts?
When you graduate. From April 2005, the earnings threshold before repayments begin will rise from £10,000 to £15,000.

How can I avoid paying?
Some universities may offer courses without fees to woo students. Public-sector employers are examining ways to pay off the fees of future graduate recruits, as are some private industries.

Will I pay interest on my loan?
No, although the debt is index-linked to inflation.

How will the debt be collected?
Through the tax system from your monthly salary in work.

Do the reforms affect students currently at university?
No, though monthly graduate repayments could reduce as a result of the increased earnings threshold.

How are the fees justified?
The Government says that graduates earn 50 per cent more than non-graduates over their lifetime and are half as likely to be unemployed. It is, therefore, right to ask them to contribute more towards the cost of this benefit to them.

Will anybody now do a “gap year”?
The gap year is likely to collapse in 2005 as teenagers scramble to get into university before the new fee arrangements begin in 2006.

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