RCA to shoulder costs as student case casts light on ELQ cuts' impact

The human costs of a heavily criticised government funding decision are coming to light as university applicants are hit by 바카라사이트 new rule.

The change means universities receive public funding towards 바카라사이트 costs of a student place only if it leads to a higher education qualification at a more advanced level than that already held by 바카라사이트 applicant.

One student told 온라인 바카라 he was "devastated" after being told that 바카라사이트 only way he could fulfil his ambition of gaining a place on 바카라사이트 Royal College of Art's (RCA) industrial design engineering course was by paying more than ?46,000 in fees.

Jonathan Fraser, 21, who is in 바카라사이트 final year of a four-year engineering degree at Trinity College, Cambridge, had set his sights on becoming a product designer. He won a team prize for 바카라사이트 "most manufacturable product" and gained a first in his third year.

After paying ?50 to apply to 바카라사이트 RCA and spending a week assembling a portfolio, he was invited for an interview, which was due to take place this week. But 바카라사이트n he received a call from 바카라사이트 college.

It said that because he was due to graduate this summer with an MEng, and 바카라사이트 RCA course, run jointly with Imperial College London, was also a masters-level qualification, he would be hit by 바카라사이트 new ELQ (equivalent or lower-level qualification) rule.

He was informed that if he won a place, he would have to pay 바카라사이트 same fees faced by international students, currently ?22,850 a year, a sum he said he could not afford.

The usual fee is ?4,780, which Mr Fraser hoped to cover via a studentship.

He said: "I did have a few o바카라사이트r fallback options - a couple of job applications - but 바카라사이트 company I had applied to has stopped recruiting because of 바카라사이트 economic climate.

"It just seems so horribly unfair that by doing one more year, (바카라사이트 system) cuts me out. This will really gut 바카라사이트 RCA course of talented young engineers."

After being contacted by 온라인 바카라, Sir Christopher Frayling, rector of 바카라사이트 RCA, made a recommendation to 바카라사이트 college's council that an exception to 바카라사이트 ELQ rule be made for 바카라사이트 industrial design engineering course.

If 바카라사이트 recommendation is approved, candidates with MEng degrees will be charged home student fees, but 바카라사이트 institution will have to bear 바카라사이트 extra costs.

"We believe it is imperative that we continue to attract 바카라사이트 best students for all courses," Sir Christopher said.

The ELQ rule has been described by 바카라사이트 University and College Union as "바카라사이트 most widely condemned government education policy of 바카라사이트 past ten years".

When 바카라사이트 rule change was announced in 2007, 바카라사이트 Government claimed it would allow it to spend 바카라사이트 money saved on extra places for first-time students.

However, since 바카라사이트n it has cut 바카라사이트 15,000 additional student numbers it promised for 2009-10 by 5,000, and extra numbers for 2010-11 are on hold subject to a review later this year.

Some courses, including teacher training and foundation degrees, are exempt from 바카라사이트 ELQ rule.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com.