But most people in the UK can afford to go to them, which is maybe by design.
Can or cannot?
In normal circumstances everyone can afford to go to university. Doesn't necessarily mean it's a profitable decision but the scheme we have at moment basically taxes you if you do well and not if you don't.
Uni is capped at £9000 a year and is free in Scotland
The UK has a student loans system that acts as a graduate tax.
This is a regression though, university used to be free from 1976-1998.