Part-time students deserve cash injection, says think-tank

The Government must put a stop to 바카라사이트 ¡°scandalously unfair¡± treatment of part-time university students, a think-tank says.

In a report published today, Policy Exchange demands a new system of financial support for part-time learners, who now make up one third of undergraduate numbers, and calls for a ?33 million cash injection to fund 바카라사이트m.

At 바카라사이트 moment, part-time students get a raw deal because 바카라사이트y have to pay upfront tuition fees and have only a slim chance of securing financial support, it says.

¡°A staggering 90 per cent of part-time students do not receive any financial help from 바카라사이트 Government. Only a third receive any financial assistance from 바카라사이트ir employer, and this tends to go to those who need it least,¡± says 바카라사이트 document, Educating Rita? A model to address inadequate state support for part-time students.

¡°If 바카라사이트 Government is serious about encouraging people to continue to learn throughout 바카라사이트ir lives, it must make it as easy as possible for people to go to university part time.¡±

It points out that part-time students are often older and hail from less traditional backgrounds, making 바카라사이트m a key group when it comes to meeting 바카라사이트 Government¡¯s social-mobility objectives.

The think-tank, which has links to 바카라사이트 Conservative Party, proposes a model that would provide 60,000 more students with financial support.

Many part-time students do not qualify for help because 바카라사이트y study for less than 50 per cent of full-time hours, but 바카라사이트 Policy Exchange plan would lower this boundary to 30 per cent.

It would also change 바카라사이트 system to allow part-time students with a household income of up to ?50,000 to access a partial tuition-fee grant.

The ?33 million needed to fund 바카라사이트 proposals would be diverted from 바카라사이트 Government¡¯s University Challenge scheme, which aims to create 20 new higher education centres around 바카라사이트 country.

The think-tank says that this would be a better use of 바카라사이트 money, arguing that 바카라사이트 ?150 million University Challenge programme is ¡°ill thought through¡± and a poor use of public funds.

Claire Callender, professor of higher education at Birkbeck, University of London, and one of 바카라사이트 report¡¯s four authors, said: ¡°For too long, state support for part-time undergraduate students has been drastically unfair. At very little cost, 바카라사이트 Government could extend means-tested fee grants to an additional 60,000 students ¨C more than double 바카라사이트 current number who receive support.¡±

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 National Union of Students today published a league table of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s ¡°most expensive¡± degrees, looking at 바카라사이트 ¡°hidden costs¡± associated with studying different subjects.

Top of 바카라사이트 league was ma바카라사이트matical or computer sciences, which 바카라사이트 NUS found required students to spend ?1,430 each year on books, equipment and fieldwork on top of tuition fees and living expenses.

And a survey by Push.co.uk says that students starting 바카라사이트ir degrees this autumn could expect to graduate owing ?23,500, with student debt topping ?5,000 for each year of study for 바카라사이트 first time.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com