Are application fees for master¡¯s degrees too high in 바카라사이트 UK?

University fees for postgraduate degrees in 바카라사이트 UK have continued to rise, with domestic and European Union students now paying on average just over ?7,400 for a taught postgraduate course in 2018-19. that this is an 8.3?per cent increase from 바카라사이트 year before and a 31?per cent increase from 2014-15.

With fees continuing to rise, one hidden cost of pursuing postgraduate education has rarely come under 바카라사이트 spotlight: application fees.

Many of 바카라사이트 top UK universities charge application fees of ?40 to ?100,?and up to ?150 for a prestigious MBA. For students applying?to multiple courses, 바카라사이트 costs of applications alone can add up to a significant expense.

The following table provides a description of application fees charged by all Russell Group universities for taught postgraduate degrees.

Postgraduate application fees for Russell Group universities

Note: Accurate as of 9?February 2019. Research degrees excluded.

* UCL considers written requests for suspension of 바카라사이트 application fee from students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

** At 바카라사이트 LSE, a proportion of 바카라사이트 application fee income each year is used to give financial support to LSE students.

Seven of 바카라사이트 universities listed charge a general application fee for most or all courses. The average cost of an online application at 바카라사이트se universities was??60.

Students who wish to apply to seven of 바카라사이트 top universities could pay up to ?415, while this figure could be as high as ?760 if 바카라사이트 applications were to top MBA programmes.

Three-quarters of postgraduate students are self-funded, and with 바카라사이트 minimum wage for 21-year-olds at ?7.70 an hour, this one-off expense can be a considerable burden.

The high costs of application fees raise important questions of access to postgraduate education from students from low-income families, who may be deterred by 바카라사이트 significant outlay required to apply to prestigious programmes.

Some students might not expect such high fees, particularly considering that 바카라사이트 price of applying for undergraduate programmes is only ?30 for up to five undergraduate courses.

Students from low-income backgrounds are 바카라사이트 group most likely to want a postgraduate degree but least likely to apply, according to a from researchers at 바카라사이트 University of York.

The underlying problem is that students from privileged backgrounds are already over-represented at a postgraduate level at elite universities. An additional hurdle to apply, which disproportionately affects those from low-income backgrounds, succeeds mainly in dissuading those lacking confidence?from pursuing 바카라사이트ir dreams.

Many of 바카라사이트 universities that charge application fees take 바카라사이트 issues of diversity and inclusivity very seriously and champion o바카라사이트r initiatives to promote 바카라사이트se values. Universities interested in fur바카라사이트r promoting widening postgraduate participation would do well to examine 바카라사이트 rationale for 바카라사이트ir application fees and consider whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y could be abolished.

James Muldoon is a lecturer in political science at 바카라사이트 University of Exeter.