Not really. It's not free, but its dramatically cheaper than the US, and usually paid via government-provided loans with good terms (low interest, fixed repayment of 9% percent of your salary above a reasonable minimum, taken automatically by employers). It's closer to a graduate tax than a traditional loan.

Everybody can have a loan for the full cost if they want one, people from poorer families get outright grants instead.

Certainly not perfect, but my impression is it hasn't significantly hindered uptake from lower income students and its not a major financial burden in practice.