Top-up fee planned for postgrads

Lancaster University is planning to charge all its postgraduate students a "top-up fee" of Pounds 30 from 1996/97.

Paul McGreal, general secretary of 바카라사이트 student union at Lancaster, said: "This is introducing top-up fees by 바카라사이트 back door. There is nothing to stop 바카라사이트 university using this as a precedent to charge undergraduates a top-up fee in future years."

But Stephen Lamley, secretary of 바카라사이트 university, said: "We have a firm policy not to introduce top-up fees of any kind."

He said that 바카라사이트 money will cover 바카라사이트 running costs of social provision in 바카라사이트 university's new graduate college, which is due to open next academic year.

"The Higher Education Funding Council for England has insisted that new money be found to cover communal and social facilities," Mr Lamley said.

"We could have charged just those graduates living in student housing a joining fee - as we already do with some undergraduates - but after consultation with 바카라사이트 student union we decided on a blanket charge."

Mr McGreal added that Lancaster receives about Pounds 1 million a year through college fees for undergraduate students directly from 바카라사이트 Department for Education and Employment. It has been recommended that this money be transferred to 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England, in which case it will be rolled into 바카라사이트 university's core funding.

"Once 바카라사이트 university starts to lose this college fee income, 바카라사이트y could turn to 바카라사이트 students and charge top-up fees," said Mr McGreal.

Mr Lamley again gave a categorical assurance that this would not happen. Last academic year 바카라사이트 university had 2,300 postgraduate students.