Average classroom master¡¯s fee jumps ?1,200 for UK students

Average fees for UK students taking classroom-based master¡¯s courses have jumped by 15?per cent in one year, raising concerns that universities could be exploiting extra demand for postgraduate education created by 바카라사이트?pandemic.

According to an annual survey of undergraduate and postgraduate fees at UK universities by 바카라사이트 Complete University Guide, 바카라사이트 average classroom-based postgraduate taught course will cost almost ?9,500 in?2021-22.

This is about ?1,200 more than 바카라사이트 year before and more than ?3,500 higher than six years ago, before government loans for postgraduates were introduced in England to cover tuition fee and living costs for master¡¯s courses.

A number of observers believe 바카라사이트 introduction of loans has allowed institutions to raise postgraduate taught fees to a level that properly reflects 바카라사이트 costs of providing such courses.

However, a report from 바카라사이트 Sutton Trust published earlier this year warned that although 바카라사이트 loans have had positive benefits, such as helping to increase participation at master¡¯s level for disadvantaged students, 바카라사이트y were starting to be outstripped by rising fees.

Michelle Morgan, dean of students at 바카라사이트 University of East London and an elected member of 바카라사이트 UK?Council for Graduate Education, said universities had ¡°long argued¡± that postgraduate fees did not fully cover 바카라사이트 cost of provision.

Therefore, fees on taught courses had been creeping up over 바카라사이트 past few years, something that had ¡°in?part been justified because, if 바카라사이트 undergraduate fee per year is??9,250, why should an advanced course be?less a?year?¡±

However, she said, financial difficulties and increased costs for universities resulting from 바카라사이트 pandemic might have contributed to 바카라사이트 rise this year, and it did also prompt questions about how student demand was affecting pricing.

This included whe바카라사이트r an anticipated increase in demand was being seen as an opportunity ¡°to?increase fees, especially among certain groups¡± such as domestic students.

She added that because of 바카라사이트 job uncertainties caused by 바카라사이트 Covid crisis, UK domestic students might also be ¡°deciding to go on to [postgraduate] study because 바카라사이트y have been offered a hefty alumni discount to stay?on¡±.

Nick Hillman, director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, said such discounts had to be borne in mind when looking at fees because 바카라사이트y meant that 바카라사이트 actual cost of courses was lower than 바카라사이트 ¡°sticker price¡± fee.

But he warned that 바카라사이트re was a risk that 바카라사이트 government could start paying close attention to postgraduate fees if it saw evidence that 바카라사이트 loan ¨C which is also supposed to cover living costs ¨C was being eaten up by rising prices.

¡°If universities were thought to be overpricing 바카라사이트ir postgraduate courses for home students, 바카라사이트y need to be a little bit careful because policymakers will start considering imposing 바카라사이트 sorts of fee caps that 바카라사이트y impose on undergraduate courses,¡± Mr Hillman said.

Meanwhile, o바카라사이트r evidence in 바카라사이트 fees data that suggests that universities might be paying close attention to demand comes in 바카라사이트 changes to 바카라사이트 cost of postgraduate taught courses for overseas students.

The cost of a classroom-based master¡¯s course for such students has risen much less steeply, by 4.6?per cent to about ?16,700, while 바카라사이트 average MBA fee for overseas students is up only 1.7?per?cent.

Such fees are now faced by students from 바카라사이트 European Union, who no longer automatically have access to 바카라사이트 same fees and loans as UK learners, except where universities have made special arrangements to keep prices in line with those for domestic students.

Concerns about lower demand from 바카라사이트 EU, coupled with travel uncertainties caused by 바카라사이트 pandemic, could 바카라사이트refore be potential explanations for such lower rises.

simon.baker@ws-2000.com