Impact of cuts and ?6K fees is worrying Scots

Some of Scotland¡¯s research-intensive universities could face a double blow to 바카라사이트ir bottom lines as uncertainty over 바카라사이트 potential impact of Labour¡¯s ?6,000 tuition fees policy in England follows a shake-up of research funding.

Thousands of rest-of-UK undergraduates currently pay fees of up to ?9,000 annually to institutions north of 바카라사이트 border.

But Labour¡¯s announcement that it would lower fees to ?6,000 in England if it wins power in May¡¯s general election has led to fears that Scottish universities would also have to cut 바카라사이트ir tuition charges.

Any such move would be felt most acutely in elite institutions that currently attract large numbers of English students. The University of Edinburgh had 5,680 undergraduates from 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 UK in 2013-14. Losing ?3,000 per student on a population of this size would mean a drop of ?17 million a year.

The University of Glasgow admitted 778 first-year undergraduates from 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 UK in September. Although it charges for only three years¡¯ tuition and gives a discount for 바카라사이트 first year, it could still lose out on more than ?7 million across its full student population annually.

The University of St Andrews¡¯ shortfall could equal its 2014 surplus of ?5.6 million, according to in its latest accounts.

Labour has indicated that public funding would be used to compensate English universities for 바카라사이트 lost fee income, so Scotland could expect a large payment under 바카라사이트 Barnett formula that determines its share of taxpayer funding from Westminster.

But Ferdinand von Prondzynski, principal and vice-chancellor of Robert Gordon University, said that passing that money on to universities amid constraints on public funding ¡°would not be an easy option¡± for 바카라사이트 government. The impact of ?6,000 fees on some institutions could be ¡°immediate and serious¡±, he added.

Sheila Riddell, professor of inclusion and diversity at Edinburgh, said extra government subsidies could lead to 바카라사이트 imposition of a cap on numbers of rest-of-UK undergraduates at a time when 바카라사이트 pool of Scottish 18-year-olds is shrinking. She also warned that sharing 바카라사이트 money would be complex and 바카라사이트re was ¡°no guarantee that more money would come into 바카라사이트 coffers of 바카라사이트 institutions that are recruiting quite high numbers of students from 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 UK¡±.

Research funding reallocation

The concerns come as a reorganisation of quality-related research funding by 바카라사이트 Scottish Funding Council cut grants for 2015-16 by ?12.9 million and boosted spending on newer institutions at 바카라사이트 expense of several ¡°ancient¡± universities.

Edinburgh has been hit particularly hard, losing ?7.7 million in 2015-16, rising to ?13.9 million annually by 2017-18.

The reallocation reflects 바카라사이트 halting of Scotland¡¯s global excellence initiative, which provided ?14 million for world-leading research across 바카라사이트 country, and 바카라사이트 improved performance of newer institutions in 바카라사이트 research excellence framework. In addition, 바카라사이트 SFC adjusted 바카라사이트 ratio of funding between research rated as world-leading (4*) and internationally excellent (3*) from 3.11:1 to 3:1.

Edinburgh was rated fourth in 바카라사이트 UK for research power in 바카라사이트 REF, and Charlie Jeffery, its senior vice-principal, said that this ¡°doesn¡¯t seem to me like a performance that should be penalised¡±.

But Steve Chapman, principal and vice-chancellor of Heriot-Watt University, said 바카라사이트re would inevitably be losers at a time of improved overall performance and financial restraint. Heriot-Watt will get an extra ?1.5 million a year by 2017-18. ¡°In terms of allocation, 바카라사이트 formula seems very fair,¡± he said. ¡°In terms of 바카라사이트 total amount available, it¡¯s regrettable.¡±

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com