Graduate tax on the cards for students

A GRADUATE tax is being considered for students in Scotland as part of a range of measures to combat the growing university funding crisis.

The Tories today said students should expect to pay towards their education once they start work, with the party putting forward proposals to follow an Australian model where students pay back deferred fees and living costs.

Student leaders NUS Scotland, which represents 200,000 higher education students, also said today that - in the current financial climate - it would be willing to discuss controversial proposals for a greater contribution from graduates. But it will only support such a move if a number of key requirements are met, including higher levels of funding from the Scottish Government and additional money from business.

The idea comes on the day of the Conservatives' own education conference in Edinburgh, which includes the National Union of Students, an Australian professor and principals from Abertay and Glasgow.