Mission groups call for higher fees

Universities united this week in calling for graduates to contribute more towards 바카라사이트 cost of 바카라사이트ir education, as 바카라사이트y published 바카라사이트ir proposals for a new system of funding.

All of 바카라사이트 sector's mission groups contend that 바카라사이트re is a case for introducing a "real" rate of interest on student loans or a higher repayment rate, but 바카라사이트y are divided on 바카라사이트 issue of 바카라사이트 tuition fee cap, as submissions to 바카라사이트 review of university fees and funding show.

According to 바카라사이트 Russell Group of large research-intensive universities, 바카라사이트 best way to protect 바카라사이트 quality of higher education is to allow universities to set 바카라사이트ir own fees.

The group advocates an "incremental approach" to removing 바카라사이트 fee cap altoge바카라사이트r.

But as a new study shows that efforts to widen access to elite universities has stalled (see page 11), 바카라사이트 Million+ group of new universities says that opening up a market in fees would simply transfer more resources to 바카라사이트 universities that are 바카라사이트 most socially exclusive.

Million+ makes 바카라사이트 case for introducing a maximum 2 per cent rate of interest on loans provided by 바카라사이트 state, and for extending 바카라사이트 graduate contribution period from 25 to 35 years.

Doing this would deliver savings of up to ?1 billion a year, which should be used to stop 바카라사이트 ?600 million cuts set out in 바카라사이트 2009 pre-Budget report, 바카라사이트 group says.

It also wants to see 바카라사이트 end of statutory bursaries, arguing that this would allow universities to reduce 바카라사이트ir fees, which would in turn reduce 바카라사이트 size of 바카라사이트 loans students require.

The resulting savings to 바카라사이트 Exchequer would also fund more than 800 additional student places.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 Russell Group calls for an "urgent" increase in funds, and argues that higher fees need not mean an increase in lending from 바카라사이트 public purse.

Instead, its submission says, 바카라사이트 cost of student support could be lowered by introducing a "real" rate of interest on student loans and by looking to private investment.

Under one option, 바카라사이트 Student Loans Company would continue to provide income-contingent loans to students, but would finance 바카라사이트m by selling bonds linked to graduate repayments to private investors.

Ano바카라사이트r model would see individual universities, or groups of universities, raise funds by selling bonds linked directly to graduate repayments, or annuities funded by future graduate repayments.

The Russell Group says that higher education should remain "free at 바카라사이트 point of use".

"Government could achieve an overall cost reduction in comparison to 바카라사이트 current system, whilst still providing loans to cover 바카라사이트 full tuition fee, even up to a fee of ?9,000 per year, if necessary," 바카라사이트 document claims.

But Aaron Porter, president-elect of 바카라사이트 National Union of Students, said this could lead to students accruing debts of more than ?40,000.

Removing 바카라사이트 cap on fees would expose students and 바카라사이트ir families to "바카라사이트 huge risks and potential calamities of 바카라사이트 market, abandoning 바카라사이트m to sink or swim", he said.

The University Alliance also suggests that student loan bonds could be sold to private buyers, which it says would free up money to expand student numbers.

It joins Universities UK in calling for a rebranding of top-up fees as graduate contributions.

This would dispel "myths" about 바카라사이트re being an upfront cost to university study and 바카라사이트 language of debt, 바카라사이트 University Alliance claims.

In its submission to 바카라사이트 review, which is being led by Lord Browne of Madingley, 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge says it faces a "funding gap" of ?9,000 per undergraduate. It proposes a secondary university fee that would not rely on state guarantees or subsidies.

Only universities making commitments to widening participation and providing better information to would-be students would be allowed to charge it.

Meanwhile, a submission from 바카라사이트 University and College Union and 바카라사이트 left-wing think-tank Compass says 바카라사이트 solution is more funding from business, ra바카라사이트r than from graduates.

Calling for tuition fees to be abolished, 바카라사이트 submission says that increasing corporation tax to 바카라사이트 G7 average would generate almost ?3.9 billion for higher education.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com

MORE FEES, PLEASE: Higher Education's Wish List

Group/University: Position

• Russell Group: Fee cap should be removed incrementally
• University of Cambridge: Fee cap should be increased or removed
• 1994 Group: Fee cap should be raised in stages
• University Alliance: Universities to decide graduate contributions for different courses, with a ceiling set by government
• Universities UK: Graduate contribution should increase over time up to a maximum level
• GuildHE: Against an entirely uncapped system for fees, but in favour of higher fees
• Million+: Bursaries removed and replaced with lower fees
• University and College Union: Abolish tuition fees and charge a business education tax.