How did Australian universities go from free education to $50,000 arts degrees in 50 years?
- Written by George Williams, Vice chancellor, Western Sydney University
Australians think students are being asked to pay far too much for their degrees. Just under half (47%) of Australians surveyed by YouGov in June 2025 believe a worker on an average income should be able to pay off the debt for a standard three-year degree within five years. When it comes to the cost of a degree, 58% believe a student should pay...





