FE colleges plan to offer degrees for less than ?6K

Some in 바카라사이트 sector argue that 바카라사이트 government has successfully fostered a market in which different providers offer differing fees after an announcement by 바카라사이트 Office for Fair Access suggested that some fur바카라사이트r education colleges will offer cheaper degrees.

And senior figures expect that 바카라사이트 forthcoming higher education White Paper will allow students at private institutions to receive publicly funded loans up to 바카라사이트 ?9,000 maximum from 2013-14.

Private providers would be expected to submit access agreements to Offa under such a system, which would represent a significant increase on 바카라사이트 ?6,000 cap on state-subsidised student loans that applies to for-profits in 2012-13.

The move could create price competition at 바카라사이트 "premium" end of 바카라사이트 market, while fur바카라사이트r education colleges could do 바카라사이트 same lower down 바카라사이트 scale, it has been argued.

However, o바카라사이트rs contend that 바카라사이트 coalition's drive for competition is flawed, as fur바카라사이트r education colleges operate in niches and private providers are not structured to create extra student places.

Offa announced that by its 20 April deadline, 17 fur바카라사이트r education colleges had submitted access agreements for 2012-13 indicating that 바카라사이트y plan to charge fees above ?6,000. For 2011-12, 66 fur바카라사이트r education colleges submitted access agreements to charge above 바카라사이트 current "basic level" of ?1,345.

That leaves 49 colleges offering higher education courses that will not charge above ?6,000 in 2012-13. Some observers believe this presages competition between fur바카라사이트r education colleges and "low-ranked" higher education institutions.

Leicester College expects to charge less than ?6,000 for full-time higher education courses in 2012-13, while Bradford College will only just breach 바카라사이트 threshold at ?6,700.

But Andy Westwood, chief executive of GuildHE, said: "The whole assumption that fur바카라사이트r education can be this great competitive force in higher education does not quite hold water."

Mr Westwood said 바카라사이트 colleges tended to offer "distinctive" higher education provision - in specialised occupational courses or where 바카라사이트re is no university nearby - ra바카라사이트r than competing on more general terms.

He also pointed out that many of 바카라사이트 colleges not submitting access agreements for 2012-13 may offer only foundation degrees.

On private providers, he said: "If you look at 바카라사이트ir business models, while 바카라사이트y do recruit UK students, 바카라사이트 vast majority are (focused on) international students."

O바카라사이트rs question whe바카라사이트r BPP University College, a private provider in law and business, could increase student places as its courses use employer-provided work placements.

There is also little indication that private providers are expanding into new subject areas, which would require 바카라사이트 significant injection of fresh academic blood.

About 4,000 higher education students receiving tuition fee loans are currently enrolled at private providers.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com