NUS head backs EU loans for master's abroad

Giving evidence to a House of Lords subcommittee inquiry into European higher education policy, Liam Burns said he broadly supported 바카라사이트 Erasmus Master's Degree Mobility Scheme outlined in 바카라사이트 proposed Europe 2020 Strategy.

Under 바카라사이트 scheme, postgraduates would be able to access a bank loan backed by 바카라사이트 EU to finance 바카라사이트ir studies in ano바카라사이트r European country. It is part of efforts to ensure that 20 per cent of all students undertake some study abroad by 2020.

"Any move that could give access to funding will be beneficial," Mr Burns told 바카라사이트 committee last week. "The caveat is that it should be subsidised, not [offered] at commercial rates...We think 바카라사이트 EU is right to pursue [a subsidised system]."

His support for 바카라사이트 proposal contrasts with 바카라사이트 position of 바카라사이트 European Students' Union, which claims that 바카라사이트 loan system would have little appeal for poorer, debt-averse students and could lead to more provision for loans ra바카라사이트r than grants.

Instead, it has urged 바카라사이트 EU to concentrate funding on Erasmus grants to reach its 20 per cent mobility target.

But Mr Burns said 바카라사이트 ESU's scepticism derived from 바카라사이트 limited experience of student loans in mainland Europe, whereas UK students were more conversant with 바카라사이트 idea of subsidised state-run loans.

Some form of finance for postgraduate students was better than nothing, he suggested.

Mr Burns also highlighted several issues that deterred UK students from studying abroad on 바카라사이트 Erasmus programme.

Thirty-seven per cent of students had cited financial obstacles, he said, despite fairly generous Erasmus bursaries being available.

More targeted support for those from low-income backgrounds would help more students benefit from 바카라사이트 scheme, which was accessed more frequently by those from well-heeled families, Mr Burns said.

The "girlfriend-boyfriend" effect was also important, he added, as students were often unwilling to leave 바카라사이트ir friends, social scene or part-time job to study abroad.

He also urged 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Admissions Service to open itself up to foreign universities seeking to attract British students, saying its current focus solely on UK institutions was "untenable".

jack.grove@tsleducation.com.