Where in Europe would people like to study? The affordability of higher education in nine Western European countries

In discussions on the accessibility of higher education, student financial support, or rather, the financial position of students, is a key focus. In many countries the affordability of higher education is an issue, particularly within those countries which have proposed to implement or increase tuition fees, or to increase the availability of loans and decrease grants. In this article, nine Western European countries are examined, and their relative position in terms of the affordability of higher education will be explored. As such, it provides insight into the relative impact of different support systems on the financial position of students.