Those unemployed because of the recession should not have to pay for part time university courses, according to think tank Million+.

Jobseekers allowance claimants and those who have been forced to cut working hours in the ongoing economic crisis, currently have to pay tuition fees of several hundred pounds a year in order to get a degree. 

The university think tank says fees should be scrapped for those on jobseekers allowance and short-term contracts in order to help them get back into work. 

Million+ believe the move will generate more than £100 million for the economy.

The scheme is estimated to cost the government £400 million but Million+, which represents the UK’s new universities, said that letting some people on to part time degree courses for free would bring in revenue of £523 million. 

The government said it is spending £4.7 billion on developing the workforce. They are also providing extra funding which will create a further 75,000 training places in colleges and 35,000 apprenticeships over the next year. 

The think tank estimates that people who are currently unemployed could gain a degree and go on to earn over £95,000 in their working lives.

It was suggested that Jobcentre Plus should encourage the scheme within a range of options available for those made unemployed during the recession. 

Part time higher education students currently pay fees up front while full time students pay theirs back after they have graduated and are in employment. This is because part time students are not included in the loans and grants system that was created by the 2004 Higher Education Act.

Around 40% of students in the UK are part time, with the majority said to be over 21. Some get their fees paid by employers and institutions may waive fees at their discretion.

There are currently no regulations as to how much institutions can charge for part time courses.

Million+ say their scheme would support government objectives concerning investment and the economy’s future needs and would also encourage older people to apply. 

This week in the UK the unemployment rate rose above two million for the first time since 1997.