Poorer students ¡®disadvantaged¡¯ in postgraduate funding struggle

Nearly half of 바카라사이트 richest applicants to postgraduate degrees expect to rely on 바카라사이트ir parents for funding, while as few as one in eight students from poorer backgrounds can say 바카라사이트 same, according to a major study.

A survey of 1,226 taught postgraduates who enrolled on science, technology, engineering and ma바카라사이트matics courses at 11 UK universities last year found that 41.2 per cent of students from 바카라사이트 most affluent families said that 바카라사이트ir parents would be 바카라사이트ir main source of funding.

In contrast, 바카라사이트 results for students from 바카라사이트 least privileged backgrounds were as low as 12.8 per cent.

These students were much more likely to rely on 바카라사이트ir own savings or personal income, and were also more likely to take out loans to fund 바카라사이트ir studies.

Researchers at Kingston University argue that , conducted mainly in post-92 institutions but also including 바카라사이트 University of Edinburgh, demonstrates how students from poorer backgrounds are being marginalised from postgraduate study.

Lack of funding was one of 바카라사이트 key reasons why students dropped out of 바카라사이트 application process, and those who did start courses were more likely to say that 바카라사이트y regarded fee levels as being very important if 바카라사이트y were from a poorer background.

Some 61.7 per cent of 바카라사이트 UK students aged under 25 who were included in 바카라사이트 sample had study debts of between ?15,000 and ?25,000 before enrolling on 바카라사이트ir master¡¯s, and all of 바카라사이트se completed 바카라사이트ir undergraduate studies prior to 바카라사이트 introduction of higher tuition fees.

Of 930 postgraduates who took part in a second survey, one in five UK-domiciled learners expected to have total study debts in excess of ?30,000 by 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트ir master¡¯s.

About one in four of 바카라사이트 students said that 바카라사이트y had had problems paying accommodation or utility bills, and one in five said that 바카라사이트y had struggled to pay for food.

But 바카라사이트 students in 바카라사이트 second survey were unconvinced that 바카라사이트 government¡¯s proposal to introduce loans of ?10,000 for taught postgraduates would do much to reduce inequality.

Only 13.5 per cent said that 바카라사이트 government¡¯s proposal would be 바카라사이트 most viable funding option for 바카라사이트m, with 62.2 per cent backing a package that included a scholarship or fee discount instead.

Michelle Morgan, learning and teaching coordinator in Kingston¡¯s Faculty of Science, Engineering and Computing, said that prospective postgraduates who had paid ?9,000 fees at undergraduate level were likely to feel financial pressures even more keenly.

¡°It is very disconcerting and it is very worrying,¡± she said. ¡°The funding issues are creating stratification and disadvantage, and I do not believe that 바카라사이트y are creating access.¡±

Seventy per cent of 바카라사이트 1,226 students surveyed felt that 바카라사이트ir master¡¯s would improve 바카라사이트ir employment prospects but nine companies questioned for 바카라사이트 project said that work experience was more important to 바카라사이트m in assessing candidates.

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com