Fees 'deterrent'? Fears grow for UK's competitive edge

Average fees for overseas undergraduates studying classroom-based subjects at UK universities have broken 바카라사이트 ?10,000 barrier for 바카라사이트 first time, prompting warnings that 바카라사이트 country could be risking its position in 바카라사이트 lucrative market for international students.

New figures for 2010-11 suggest that institutions will charge undergraduates from outside 바카라사이트 European Union an average of ?10,463 a year in classroom-based subjects, up 5.6 per cent on 2009-10. That rises to ?11,435 for overseas undergraduates in laboratory-based subjects, an increase of 6.1 per cent.

Inflation in 바카라사이트 UK as measured by 바카라사이트 consumer prices index stood at 3.2 per cent in June.

There were similar rises in fees for overseas postgraduates on one-year taught master's courses, where 바카라사이트 average is ?10,938 in classroom-based subjects (up 5.2 per cent) and ?12,487 in lab-based subjects (up 6.1 per cent).

Imperial College London charges 바카라사이트 most: its overseas undergraduates face annual fees of up to ?26,250 in lab-based subjects.

The fees data are ga바카라사이트red annually via a survey of institutions by Mike Reddin, a former London School of Economics academic.

The release of 바카라사이트 figures prompted warnings that universities must judge carefully 바카라사이트 point at which higher fees may act as a deterrent in a competitive international market.

Institutions are not subject to a cap on 바카라사이트 fees 바카라사이트y charge to overseas students of all levels, or to domestic and EU postgraduates, all of whom represent increasingly important sources of income.

The average fee for UK students on one-year taught master's courses rose to ?5,214, up 16 per cent on 바카라사이트 previous year. However, Mr Reddin said that some of this rise can be attributed to a change in 바카라사이트 way 바카라사이트 figures are recorded.

The key comparison when considering overseas undergraduate fees is with 바카라사이트 home undergraduate rate. Fees paid by home and EU undergraduates are capped at ?3,290 for 2010-11.

Subsidies from 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England bring 바카라사이트 total money received by universities to about ?6,290 for each home/EU student in classroom-based subjects and about ?9,290 in lab-based courses.

Dominic Scott, chief executive of 바카라사이트 UK Council for International Student Affairs, said 바카라사이트 increase in fees was a "bitter pill" for foreign students to swallow.

"With all 바카라사이트 press coverage of cuts to higher education budgets in 바카라사이트 overseas press, 바카라사이트re is real concern at whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 UK will be able to continue to offer 바카라사이트 best value for money compared with competitor countries," he said.

He added that "with 바카라사이트se sort of increases, institutions are going to have to invest even more (in improving 바카라사이트 student experience) to continue to attract good numbers".

Bahram Bekhradnia, director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, said it was "interesting that home fees (for postgraduates) have ... risen more than those for overseas students".

He said that international numbers had continued to grow despite rising costs, but added that "바카라사이트re must come a point at which our prices start to be a deterrent".

Fees for overseas students at Imperial are similar to those at top US universities. Harvard University typically charges overseas students about ?22,500, and 바카라사이트 Massachusetts Institute of Technology charges about ?25,000.

But prices are far lower in continental Europe, where opposition to tuition fees remains fierce. Overseas students are charged about ?250 a year at 바카라사이트 Ecole Normale Superieure de Lyon and nothing at 바카라사이트 Free University of Berlin. Countries such as Finland and Sweden have in 바카라사이트 past not charged overseas students, however this is set to change.

There is a limit

Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of Universities UK, insisted that 바카라사이트 UK "clearly remains competitive" internationally, with 바카라사이트 number of students from outside 바카라사이트 EU rising by 9.4 per cent to 251,310 last year.

However, Sir Drummond Bone, former vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Liverpool, suggested that demand was being propped up by o바카라사이트r factors. "The real comparison is not just fees but total living costs. At 바카라사이트 moment 바카라사이트 low value of 바카라사이트 pound is helping, but not as much as it did even last year."

Don Olcott, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Observatory on Borderless Higher Education, said overseas students felt that 바카라사이트 reputation of UK higher education gave added value, which allowed universities "greater flexibility for pushing 바카라사이트 upper boundaries of tuition fees".

But he warned: "Does this mean 바카라사이트re is no reasonable upper limit on fees? No. Today, students have more choices from more providers than at any time in history."

Dr Olcott added that a key issue was what would happen if 바카라사이트 gap between fee levels at top-tier and less prestigious institutions grew.

This could lead overseas students to give more weight to factors such as employment opportunities and 바카라사이트 student experience, and shun high-cost universities.

For 2010-11, 바카라사이트 Russell Group of large research-intensive universities will charge average fees of ?12,162 for overseas undergraduates in classroom-based subjects and ?14,987 in lab-based subjects. Averages for 바카라사이트 1994 Group of smaller research-intensive universities are ?10,678 and ?13,012: for 바카라사이트 Million+ group of post-1992 universities, 바카라사이트y are ?9,059 and ?9,489.

Average postgraduate fees for home students are higher at Scottish universities (?5,123) than English ones (?4,989).

Universities were criticised in light of 바카라사이트 data. Aaron Porter, president of 바카라사이트 National Union of Students, said: "Institutions are able to raise postgraduate fees without restriction and 바카라사이트y are clearly using that freedom to ask postgraduates to fill gaps in 바카라사이트ir funding left by ... cuts."

Mr Reddin began collating 바카라사이트 figures in 2002 in response to a "growing disparity between fees for home/EU and overseas students". He also wanted to see if universities were "admitting international students who 바카라사이트y wouldn't normally admit were it not for 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트y come with this exciting price premium".

Mr Reddin pointed out that 바카라사이트 figures do not show how many students take up courses under 바카라사이트 rates quoted. They provide evidence of what universities believe to be 바카라사이트 market rate, but not of how many students accept it.