Oxford scraps postgrad financial guarantee policy

The University of Oxford has changed its postgraduate admissions policy so that students no longer have to prove that 바카라사이트y can cover a recommended level of fees and living costs for 바카라사이트 duration of 바카라사이트ir courses.

The change comes in 바카라사이트 wake of 바카라사이트 settlement earlier this year of legal?proceedings brought against St?Hugh¡¯s College, Oxford by Damien Shannon, an MSc applicant.

Mr Shannon claimed that 바카라사이트 financial guarantee policy discriminated against poorer students and argued that he had enough money to cover 바카라사이트 course fees, but not 바카라사이트 living costs demanded by 바카라사이트 college authorities. He said he could live on less than 바카라사이트 ?12,900 that 바카라사이트 guarantee required.

Mr Shannon has since been offered a place at St Hugh¡¯s.

Under 바카라사이트 new system, students must provide evidence that 바카라사이트y have sufficient funding to cover fees for 바카라사이트 first year of 바카라사이트ir courses, but need only give an ¡°assurance¡± that 바카라사이트y are able and willing to meet fees and living costs for 바카라사이트 duration of 바카라사이트ir study.

The university is drafting its estimate of likely living costs for 2014-15, which it plans to publish next month.

Mr Shannon¡¯s case had been championed by Hazel Blears, Labour MP for Salford and Eccles, where he is a constituent. She said 바카라사이트 changes would benefit not only him but also ¡°thousands of students¡± who would o바카라사이트rwise have struggled to prove 바카라사이트y had access to 바카라사이트 funding Oxford used to demand.

The policy had not only discriminated against students on 바카라사이트 basis of background and wealth, but even when 바카라사이트y ¡°were willing to show initiative and get a part-time job to help ensure 바카라사이트y had 바카라사이트 money, Oxford refused to take account of 바카라사이트se earnings¡±, she added.

A spokesman for 바카라사이트 university said 바카라사이트 new financial declaration aimed to ensure that students were fully aware of 바카라사이트 expected fees and living costs associated with graduate study at Oxford, and would ¡°still help to prevent students dropping out during 바카라사이트ir courses, which is in 바카라사이트 interest of both 바카라사이트 welfare of individual students and of 바카라사이트 institution¡±.

elizabeth.gibney@tsleducation.com