The main thing to look for with motherboards (other than CPU compatibility) is the ports it has. Number/type of usb ports, ethernet speed etc. that's most likely to be the thing that annoys you if you buy the wrong one.
(PCIE expansion cards can fix most problems there though if needed)
Students in particular got fucked due to the tuition fee pledge roll back. I can see the conservatives using that as a wedge against the lib dem student vote in those seats.