Indeed, "graduate tax" has been shoved down our throats left right and centre in the media. Because who can disagree with paying a tax! It's your duty! And by changing the narrative away from debt, we can ignore any psychological affects of having large sums of debt at a young age. I was told my loan (this was before they went up to huge amounts) was affectively free because my salary would rise above inflation every year!

Let's not also forget that interest rates are on a sliding scale depend on income. People earning over £45k have an extra 3% interest slapped on top of RPI, i.e. 6.1% - amazingly similar to those in the US, no?

It's a noticeable sum off your take-home that isn't going towards saving for a mortgage. As another posted pointed out, look at your total take-home pay.

Also, the large sums of money have gone towards lavish new facilities and over-the-top student halls of residences. It seems like students have provided investment capital for universities.