The universities minister David Willetts has just announced the UK’s first private university in decades will be created. Immediately there is uproar and negativity for something which in the current economic climate might not be so bad. A private university will mean that more students are given the opportunity to go the university who perhaps were rejected due to current lack of available places in public universities. A private university offering more flexible courses such as part-time or two-year degrees will provide yet more opportunity for people to fit education around their current lives. Having just completed a two and a half year part time degree, whilst working full-time, I fully support flexible degrees aimed for people with other work or life commitments. Students who failed to meet the criteria for public sector courses, or failed due to lack of places on courses can be given a second chance. Currently, there are debates about what public universities are intending to do regarding tuition fees and the possibility of a graduate tax. If tuition fees are increased, or a graduate tax enforced, the introduction of a private university could be viewed as a favourable alternative creating more teaching jobs and academic places. However, I feel it is important to consider the quality of education and methods of learning that accompany private universities. I don’t think that private universities should be recognised on the same level of current public accredited universities. This will alleviate the risk of private universities compromising current standards of education. Public and private universities are separate forms of education and as long as private universities have their own accreditations and standards that are recognised and accepted as an alternative form of education, then private education should not be discouraged. If private universities were to set up online courses, then the quality of learning and education may indeed be questionable. Obtaining a degree online from a private university will not compare in the eyes of students who attended university full-time for three years. However, as long as people of all ages and stages in their lives are given the opportunity to be educated, the question of how, good or bad, is set to change.