The Gvt used to provid subsidies to encourage more students to go to uni, in 2001 they increased from £1000-£3000 a year, when I went it went up to £4000 a year and now we have the torries in power they have ended all subsidies so uni have permission to charge a maximum of £12000 a year and abuot 90% have announced an intention of doing it, including where im doing my MA and where i did my undergrad.
Works out well for me, degree's will actually have value again and i've already got one/two (theres no way im not getting my MA)