I got accepted as a Commoner at 17 and preferred not to waste a 3rd tear in the Sixth. I got a State Scholarship based on my A & S-Levels and tthe odd £40 would have been deducted from that.. Because of my father's earnings, in the end the State paid nothing.
Because my father, and mother, were mean and controlling, I had less to spend that State grant people. Fortunately my father never understood Battels; I was able to supplement my meagre cash with a signature.

Another correction: surely you meant "DPhil."

Four of them in my close family. I occasionally read their research papers and have not so far been impressed. I dare say that the fault is mine.

I think it is worth exploring, if it works it could be a huge benefit and produce a happier society. If it doesn't work then that would be evident in trials.

Quite so.

People won't be happy until their children are forced to go up and sweep rich folk's chimneys, the mines are reopened and children can go and work the pit tunnel doors like they used to, women can work in dangerous cotton mills where they got dragged into and killed in dangerous looms, and the navy used to serve up bread with maggots in for sailors at sea.

Those were genuinely happy days when there was no government interference and the lords and masters could do exactly as they pleased and treat ordinary people like shit.