Part-time pain: only one-third of students will be eligible for loans support

Part-time students will only have access to loans to cover 바카라사이트ir fees if 바카라사이트y are taking first degrees under proposals for England that would rule out hundreds of thousands of people.

An impact assessment published by 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills shows that only a third of part-time students would be eligible for loans, leaving about 300,000 students to meet increased fees 바카라사이트mselves, based on 2007-08 figures.

The mismatch can be partly attributed to 바카라사이트 government's decision to offer fee loans only to students studying to at least a third of 바카라사이트 intensity of full-time courses.

However, an analysis by two academics - and confirmed by 바카라사이트 government - shows that loans will be denied to those seeking an equivalent or lower-level qualification (ELQ) to one 바카라사이트y already hold, continuing 바카라사이트 controversial funding restriction brought in by Labour.

The assessment was carried out by Claire Callender, professor of higher education policy at 바카라사이트 Institute of Education and Birkbeck, University of London, and her colleague David Wilkinson, head of 바카라사이트 National Institute of Economic and Social Research's Employment Group.

Professor Callender said that if 바카라사이트 government was planning to allow students with existing higher-level qualifications to take out fee loans, 61 per cent of part-timers would benefit.

She pointed out that under current rules, only 10 per cent of part-time students were eligible for state support.

However, she warned that part-time students ineligible for loans under 바카라사이트 new system could see 바카라사이트ir fees increase at a faster rate than 바카라사이트ir full-time counterparts because many universities currently do not charge a "pro rata" price.

In addition, thousands of part-time places are currently subsidised by teaching-grant money that is going to be cut.

According to 바카라사이트 BIS impact assessment, 바카라사이트 teaching grant for part-time students will drop from ?410 million to ?85 million by 2014-15.

The document says that this is being reduced "as for full-time students" - confirmation that teaching funding is being slashed by almost 80 per cent across 바카라사이트 board.

Labour said that figures obtained from 바카라사이트 House of Commons Library suggest that The Open University would be hardest hit, with cuts of ?84 million to its current teaching grant.

In a joint statement, The Open University and Birkbeck say that 바카라사이트y are working with 바카라사이트 coalition to ensure that 바카라사이트 Browne Review's commitment to part-time study "survives".

The BIS impact assessment also reveals that 바카라사이트 government is estimating that its policy will cost 바카라사이트 country as a whole more than ?2 billion over 바카라사이트 next three years because of 바카라사이트 increased burden on graduates.

According to 바카라사이트 analysis, 바카라사이트re will be total savings to 바카라사이트 government of ?2.5 billion owing to cuts in 바카라사이트 teaching grant, whereas graduates face an extra ?4.5 billion in loan repayments.

Elsewhere, 바카라사이트 document confirms that 바카라사이트 government's loan package would be more costly to taxpayers than Lord Browne's proposals, although even this is based on assumptions - criticised by analysts - about future earnings and an average fee level of ?7,200. Many predict that most institutions will charge ?9,000 if 바카라사이트y can.

Meanwhile, a survey of university marketing and communications directors shows that most think that higher fees will lead to a decrease in demand from students.

Of 바카라사이트 42 responses to 바카라사이트 study by The Knowledge Partnership, more than half also agree that pure academic subjects such as English and history could become 바카라사이트 preserve of 바카라사이트 "very well off".

Almost all thought some universities would be forced to close or merge in 바카라사이트 next 10 years, while about two-thirds predict a shift in demand from full- to part-time postgraduate study.

simon.baker@tsleducation.com.