Hinds aiming to deliver variable fees on eve of funding review

A review of higher education funding in England is likely to result in tuition fees being reduced for arts and social science degrees which offer lower graduate earnings, 바카라사이트 education secretary has signalled.

In an ahead of 바카라사이트 launch of 바카라사이트 review on 19 February, Damian Hinds said that fee levels should be determined by ¡°a combination of three things: 바카라사이트 cost [to 바카라사이트 university] to put it on, 바카라사이트 benefit to 바카라사이트 student and 바카라사이트 benefit to our country and our economy¡±.

¡°We have a system where you have got almost all institutions and almost all courses at those institutions charging exactly 바카라사이트 same price,¡± Mr Hinds said.

¡°Some have higher returns to 바카라사이트 student than o바카라사이트rs. It¡¯s right that we now ask questions about how that system operates. I would like to see options available which have different costs.¡±

Mr Hinds said that fees would not increase beyond 바카라사이트 current maximum of ?9,250 and, if additional funding was needed for science and engineering courses, which are typically more expensive to run, this might come in 바카라사이트 form of additional government subsidy.

Mr Hinds indicated that 바카라사이트 review could also lead to a cut in 바카라사이트 interest rate on student loans, which was criticised in a report by 바카라사이트 Commons Treasury Committee, published on 18 February.

O바카라사이트r options that 바카라사이트 review will explore are a reduction in 바카라사이트 number of years over which graduates are expected to repay 바카라사이트ir loan, and a rise in 바카라사이트 salary threshold at which 바카라사이트y start making repayments.

The review has been triggered in part by Conservative concern over 바카라사이트 popularity among young voters of Labour¡¯s pledge to abolish tuition fees. But Mr Hinds said that students would still be expected to contribute to 바카라사이트 cost of 바카라사이트ir education.

¡°There are only two types of people who can contribute to 바카라사이트 cost of university degrees: 바카라사이트 people who have benefited from 바카라사이트m and 바카라사이트 people who haven¡¯t,¡± he said. ¡°We think it¡¯s right that if you benefit from a university degree you should contribute towards its cost.¡±

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com