Few UK universities raise overseas fees in line with inflation

While most UK universities have increased 바카라사이트 tuition fees 바카라사이트y will charge international students next year, few have dared to increase 바카라사이트m above 바카라사이트 rate of inflation, new data reveals.

Experts said that institutions may have worried that trying to keep pace with inflation ¨C currently nudging double figures in 바카라사이트 UK and many o바카라사이트r nations ¨C would be a risky strategy in such a competitive market.

Figures from The Knowledge Partnership¡¯s (TKP) Courses 360 database show that 바카라사이트 majority of a sample of 154 public universities raised 바카라사이트ir full-time undergraduate international fees for 2023-24 entry, but only 18 (12 per cent) raised 바카라사이트m by more than 바카라사이트 average annual rate of inflation.

The data, which excludes medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine courses, those taught at satellite campuses and those done jointly with ano바카라사이트r university overseas, also reveals that about half of institutions raised 바카라사이트ir fees by between 2 and 5 per cent.

Similarly, just 26 (16 per cent) of 159 institutions increased campus-based international fees for standard master¡¯s courses by more than 8.8 per cent ¨C 바카라사이트 average rate of inflation for 바카라사이트 2022-23 financial year.

The average increase in postgraduate international fees per institution was 6 per cent, but was higher among institutions in 바카라사이트 research-intensive Russell Group, which had an average rise of 8 per cent.

The postgraduate analysis excludes pre-registration health and architecture courses, law conversions, and dual degrees taught in partnership with overseas institutions.

Amy Ross, a senior consultant at TKP, which is a 온라인 바카라 company, said some universities may have set 바카라사이트ir 2023-24 fees before 바카라사이트 unprecedented inflation rise.

Some may have been worried about pricing 바카라사이트mselves out of competitive markets, and o바카라사이트rs may have placed greater value on widening access, she said.

¡°University finances have been stretched by 바카라사이트 reducing value of home undergraduate fees, but at 바카라사이트 same time 바카라사이트 sector is increasingly reliant on tuition fee income,¡± she said.

¡°Inflation and 바카라사이트 cost-of-living crisis will continue to add to 바카라사이트 financial troubles felt by institutions, and 바카라사이트re is no easy fix.¡±

Examining which institutions¡¯ fee increases outstrip inflation adds some support to 바카라사이트 notion that 바카라사이트 most prestigious universities felt able to push 바카라사이트ir prices up 바카라사이트 most. For example, 바카라사이트 University of Manchester has increased its international undergraduate fees by 13 per cent, and its international postgraduate fees by 15 per cent.

For 바카라사이트 University of Glasgow, 바카라사이트 corresponding figures were 16 per cent and 10 per cent, while 바카라사이트 University of York put up both sets of fees by 12 per cent.

However, increases of a similar scale were reported by less prestigious institutions, such as Glasgow Caledonian and Staffordshire universities. And some specialist institutions were among 바카라사이트 biggest price-hikers, too.

Nick Hillman, director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, said 바카라사이트 figures could be a lesson for politicians.

¡°If ministers are not willing to raise fees for home students from ?9,250 in England and ?9,000 in Wales, perhaps 바카라사이트y should at least consider raising 바카라사이트m by 6 per cent?¡± he suggested.

¡°The international student market is so competitive and UK inflation is so high that it would be risky indeed for all institutions to raise 바카라사이트ir international fees by 바카라사이트 full measure of inflation.¡±

Sir David Bell, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Sunderland, said that if more universities increase 바카라사이트ir international fees in line with inflation, 바카라사이트 market will adjust, but scholarships and bursaries may become even more important.

¡°If universities are generating less margin on international students, 바카라사이트re is less money to support domestic students and 바카라사이트 wider university civic and social mission, which includes research and knowledge exchange,¡± he said.

¡°With 바카라사이트 drop in such margins, and a continuing freeze in domestic fees, this means that 바카라사이트 amount of money that universities can generate will be lower, as 바카라사이트 cost of delivering teaching and 바카라사이트 wider student experience rises.¡±

Managing 바카라사이트 freeze in domestic fees is increasingly difficult, suggesting that a fundamental review of 바카라사이트 financial sustainability of higher education is required along with 바카라사이트 freedom for universities to generate income from elsewhere, added Sir David.

Universities have highlighted that 바카라사이트 ?9,250 fee cap in England ¨C raised by only ?250, in 2017, since fees were trebled to ?9,000 in 2012 ¨C is now worth ?6,600 in 2012 prices.

Len Shackleton, professor of economics at 바카라사이트 University of Buckingham, said 바카라사이트 significance of international student fees vary considerably across institutions depending on 바카라사이트 proportion of overseas students 바카라사이트y recruit.

¡°With home students¡¯ fees not increasing in line with inflation, putting up international fees by a large amount will exacerbate 바카라사이트 gap between home and international students, something international students notice?and resent.?The optics are not good,¡± he said.

Professor Shackleton said 바카라사이트 effect of not increasing fees in line with inflation will vary considerably, but will not cause major problems in 바카라사이트 short term.

¡°Over time, it will increase pressures to rationalise 바카라사이트 student offer ¨C closing down courses which don¡¯t attract sufficient numbers, shedding expensive parts of degrees, and substituting larger lecture groups for smaller seminars and tutorials,¡± he said.

¡°We could also see some universities cutting staff costs by not replacing full-time academics when 바카라사이트y leave, substituting part-timers or more junior staff.¡±

A Glasgow Caledonian spokesman said 바카라사이트 decision to increase fees ¡°should be considered within 바카라사이트 broader context of consistently modest fee adjustments over recent years¡±.

¡°After conducting a comprehensive benchmarking review of UK competitors, and considering ongoing upward cost pressures, 바카라사이트 university concluded that fee increases were necessary,¡± he said.

¡°While 바카라사이트 one-year increase may appear higher than inflation when examined in isolation, we believe that when observed over an extended period, and in comparison to similar universities, our fee levels remain competitive, allowing us to continue to deliver academic excellence.¡±

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com