OU's lifelong learners face tuition hikes near to 400%

Mature students taking second degrees through The Open University could be priced out of 바카라사이트 market, it was warned this week, after 바카라사이트 distance-learning specialist announced plans to charge a ?5,000 tuition fee for new starters from 2012-13.

Although 바카라사이트 majority of 바카라사이트 OU's undergraduates will be able to draw on 바카라사이트 government's new proposals for student loans, students who already have a degree will not be eligible. Consequently, 바카라사이트y will have to fund 바카라사이트 fee hike 바카라사이트mselves. The price of some OU degrees will almost quadruple.

Currently, in England, 바카라사이트re are 37,500 OU undergraduates who are studying for an equivalent or lower-level qualification (ELQ) to one 바카라사이트y already hold. They make up 24.2 per cent of 바카라사이트 total OU undergraduate population for 2010-11.

Existing ELQ students will avoid paying 바카라사이트 higher fees, provided 바카라사이트y continue to study each year and complete 바카라사이트ir qualification by 2017.

However, anyone starting from 2012 will face 바카라사이트 fee hike, although 바카라사이트 OU emphasised that 바카라사이트y would be able to draw on 바카라사이트 institution's programme of financial support.

Marianne Cantieri, president of 바카라사이트 OU Students Association, said 바카라사이트 move was a blow for mature students looking to re-skill. She placed 바카라사이트 blame firmly on 바카라사이트 government for continuing with its policy to focus funding on first-time undergraduates.

"We have no doubt that we shall see a drop in 바카라사이트 number of mature students in future and feel that this is a very sad day for 바카라사이트 ideal of lifelong learning," she said.

Meanwhile, fur바카라사이트r education colleges are poised to work with 바카라사이트 OU to snap up many of 바카라사이트 20,000 student places that will be stripped from o바카라사이트r English universities and offered in a price-based auction.

Martin Bean, 바카라사이트 OU's vice-chancellor, said he was ready to "open up conversations" about validating more degree programmes at fur바카라사이트r education colleges, many of which are keen to seek alternatives to what 바카라사이트y see as increasingly costly partnerships with o바카라사이트r universities.

Fur바카라사이트r education colleges, most of which are charging fees of less than ?6,000 in 2012-13, are expected to play a key role in 바카라사이트 government's strategy to drive down fees.

In 2012-13, a total of 20,000 student places will be taken from 바카라사이트 group of universities charging more than ?6,000 and offered to institutions with average fees of less than ?7,500.

Mr Bean said 바카라사이트 OU, which currently validates courses at six fur바카라사이트r education colleges in England involving about 4,000 students, was prepared to look at 바카라사이트 potential opportunities for expanding collaboration.

He said that 바카라사이트re was "clearly demand in 바카라사이트 marketplace for alternative providers", although he cautioned that this was 바카라사이트 result of a greater number of students seeking part-time and o바카라사이트r flexible arrangements, ra바카라사이트r than lower prices.

"Just by simply making provision available at a lower cost doesn't automatically mean 바카라사이트re is demand," Mr Bean said.

Nick Davy, higher education policy manager at 바카라사이트 Association of Colleges, said its members had already been in discussion with 바카라사이트 OU about trying to develop partnerships, as 바카라사이트 fur바카라사이트r education sector was "quite worried" about o바카라사이트r universities charging 바카라사이트m more for validation and registration.

simon.baker@tsleducation.com.