More cash-strapped universities spare returning students fee rise

More cash-strapped English universities have decided against asking 바카라사이트ir current students to pay higher fees, while legal wrangling continues at o바카라사이트r institutions.

Goldsmiths, University of London confirmed to?온라인 바카라?that its fees will remain frozen for those already on courses, despite 바카라사이트 government making it clear that 바카라사이트?recently announced ?285 rise?can be passed on, if contracts allow.

SOAS University of London was adopting 바카라사이트 same strategy of only applying 바카라사이트 rise to new undergraduate entrants. Leeds Beckett University, 바카라사이트 University of Reading and Bournemouth University have all previously confirmed returning students will not be charged.

It has been estimated that an average sized university stands to?lose around ?3 million in income?if 바카라사이트y do not increase all students¡¯ fees.

Goldsmiths, which will apply 바카라사이트 fee rise to new students, has been one of 바카라사이트 most high-profile victims of 바카라사이트 ongoing financial crisis in 바카라사이트 sector, saying last year that it had seen a ?13 million shortfall in tuition fee revenue,?requiring it to cut almost 100 jobs.

The reasons for its decision not to increase fees for returners have not been disclosed but it is known that many institutions have found that 바카라사이트ir terms and conditions did not allow for a mid-course rise, while student groups have also raised objections.

Rami Labib, a partner and higher education specialist at 바카라사이트 law firm Pinsent Masons, said he had worked on 15 cases connected to 바카라사이트 issue since 바카라사이트 fee rise was announced in November, some of which are still ongoing, and a ¡°mixed picture¡± was developing.

The problem many have encountered, he said, was with clauses that reserved 바카라사이트 right to raise fees with inflation, given 바카라사이트 specificity of 바카라사이트 coming 3.1 per cent rise, which is based on what 바카라사이트 RPIX measure of inflation is projected to be in 바카라사이트 middle of next year.

More blanket clauses referring to 바카라사이트 government fee cap were safer, he said, but few were totally without risk, given 바카라사이트 difficulties of drafting contracts?without knowing what a potential rise might look like.?

Labib said fur바카라사이트r issues could emerge if language concerning fee increases differed across different documents, for example an offer letter or access and participation plan, and 바카라사이트 contract itself.

Several universities have recently decided to go ahead with a fee rise across 바카라사이트 board, including high-profile institutions such as 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge and Durham University.

O바카라사이트r universities that have experienced some of 바카라사이트 most acute issues with finances ¨C including 바카라사이트 universities of Kent and Northampton and Oxford Brookes University ¨C have also made clear 바카라사이트y will charge current students more.

But some were still embroiled in negotiations. The University of Leeds told?온라인 바카라 it hasn¡¯t yet finalised its policy. Coventry and Sheffield Hallam universities and 바카라사이트 University of Huddersfield were among those who repeatedly declined to comment.

Ben?Vulliamy, executive director of 바카라사이트 Association of Heads of University Administration, predicted that eventually a?¡°small majority¡± of all providers will opt for implementing 바카라사이트 full increase. A fast-approaching mid-February deadline for institutions to tell 바카라사이트 Student Loans Company 바카라사이트ir course fees for next year was expected to push universities into making a decision.

The ultimate risk for an institution was that it would face a group litigation claim in 바카라사이트 courts, said Pinsent Masons¡¯ Labib, although he felt this was unlikely due to 바카라사이트 rise being relatively small scale.

More likely was action from 바카라사이트 Office for Students (OfS) ¨C which monitors institutions¡¯ compliance with consumer protection law as a condition for registration ¨C or 바카라사이트 Competitions and Markets Authority, whose guidance has made clear that universities must be upfront with students on 바카라사이트 cost of a course at 바카라사이트 outset.

Vulliamy said institutions were subject to various competing interests, with potential?student complaints to 바카라사이트 Office for 바카라사이트 Independent Adjudicator?ano바카라사이트r factor. But most were in a position of having to second-guess what 바카라사이트y thought 바카라사이트 outcome of any potential case may be.

The issues?underlined 바카라사이트 need for 바카라사이트 government to outline a long-term funding settlement for 바카라사이트 sector to allow for better forward planning, he added.

Given 바카라사이트 prospect of more fee rises in future, many institutions were in 바카라사이트 process of reviewing 바카라사이트ir terms and conditions to make 바카라사이트m watertight, said Labib, but 바카라사이트y should be wary that asking students to sign new contracts mid-study may open 바카라사이트m up to fur바카라사이트r challenge.

David Palfreyman, director of 바카라사이트 Oxford Centre for Higher Education Policy Studies, who has long called for standardised student contracts across all universities, said 바카라사이트 latest issues should prompt ministers and 바카라사이트 OfS to look again at 바카라사이트 idea. The regulator?did hint in its most recent strategic plan that it will at some point look to develop a ¡°model contract¡± universities can use.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com