It is with the notion of means tested eligibility that leads Brooks (2015) to argue that the UK’s higher educational system is ‘neo-liberal’ and its welfare system that is beneficial to the lowest income families, suggesting that it is ‘selective’ in who benefits financially. This is mirrored by the findings from NUS (2009) as they found that lone parents are more likely to be successful at accessing financial support in order to study, as opposed to households with a larger income. This suggests that lower income households are more likely to secure degree attainment. Brooks (2015) and the NUS (2009) were correct in their approach as in 2003 the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) introduced the White Paper, ‘The Future of Higher Education’.
