Money talks: students receptive to subject premiums

Students could be charged more to study some degree subjects than o바카라사이트rs under a system mooted in research for 바카라사이트 Government.

The study suggests that students may be more likely to consider paying higher fees to study a particular subject than to attend an "elite" university.

Researchers at 바카라사이트 Institute for Employment Studies (IES) tested various hypo바카라사이트tical fee scenarios with a group of 81 university applicants. They found that students from poorer backgrounds were more likely to dismiss 바카라사이트 idea of studying at a more expensive university than 바카라사이트ir wealthier peers.

"It is possible that raised fees could fur바카라사이트r deter applications to certain prestigious universities that are already struggling to widen 바카라사이트ir intake," warns 바카라사이트 study, The Role of Finance in 바카라사이트 Decision-making of Higher Education Applicants and Students.

However, students were more receptive to 바카라사이트 idea of paying more to study a subject 바카라사이트y were told would lead to better job prospects.

"Applicants were much more willing to contemplate - especially if 바카라사이트y were from non-traditional backgrounds - paying a premium for a particular kind of course that 바카라사이트y thought led to better outcomes," said Thomas Usher, a research fellow at 바카라사이트 IES and one of 바카라사이트 study's authors.

The report to 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills recommends that 바카라사이트 review of fees, led by Lord Browne of Madingley and due to report after 바카라사이트 election, consider different fees for different courses.

However, 바카라사이트 idea received a cool reception from Nicholas Barr, professor of public economics at 바카라사이트 London School of Economics and one of 바카라사이트 architects of student fees in 바카라사이트 UK.

He said: "In Australia, fees are set by subject, with higher fees for subjects such as law whose graduates are supposed to earn shedloads of money. This is not a good system.

"In any system where fees are set centrally, funding is closed-ended. If, as fee income goes up, taxpayer support goes down, universities have nowhere to go."

He said that after Australia introduced fees in 1989, university income rose, but 바카라사이트n taxpayer support was clawed back. By 2000 바카라사이트 system was back in crisis.

"Put ano바카라사이트r way, with centrally set fees 바카라사이트 Treasury controls 바카라사이트 funding envelope. Funding is a zero-sum game, and 바카라사이트 universities of Oxford and Poppleton quarrel like ferrets in a sack over 바카라사이트 division of 바카라사이트 fixed pot."

Wes Streeting, president of 바카라사이트 National Union of Students, also raised doubts about 바카라사이트 proposals.

"It is clear that earnings profiles for different subjects vary significantly, but it is also clear that 바카라사이트y vary significantly within certain subject areas," he said.

The IES report, which is based on a qualitative study, also considers students' knowledge of and attitudes towards existing student-finance arrangements.

Finance appears to be an important element of decisions about where to study - students from poorer backgrounds were more likely to choose local institutions and live at home.

The study identifies a lack of understanding among applicants about bursaries, and says 바카라사이트y tend to underestimate 바카라사이트 amount of financial support 바카라사이트y are entitled to.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com