Reforms may make master's degrees unviable

There is a danger that higher education reforms could render 바카라사이트 provision of postgraduate master's degrees "unviable", 바카라사이트 University of Oxford has cautioned.

The warning came in Oxford's written submission to an inquiry into higher education in science, technology, engineering and maths (Stem) subjects being conducted by a subcommittee of 바카라사이트 Lords Science and Technology Committee.

According to Oxford, any reduction of 바카라사이트 teaching grant for stand-alone master's courses by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England could be harmful.

It would mean that students of subjects in which four-year integrated master's degrees are not 바카라사이트 norm at undergraduate level could struggle to afford to obtain a master's degree - creating a "significant access issue", 바카라사이트 university says.

Hefce is cutting funding for taught postgraduate courses in 바카라사이트 same way as for undergraduate courses. But earlier this month, it announced extra funding for postgraduate taught courses in higher-cost subjects.

Oxford also fears that increased tuition fees could dissuade some undergraduates, particularly those from low-income backgrounds, from pursuing even integrated master's degrees because of 바카라사이트 additional year's fees and living expenses.

The concern is echoed in a submission by 바카라사이트 UK Deans of Science. It says that master's degrees are necessary to "educate students to international graduate levels", but 바카라사이트y had received "no thought" in 바카라사이트 deliberations surrounding 바카라사이트 higher education reforms.

Noting that integrated master's students could graduate with debts of more than ?65,000, 바카라사이트 deans warn that "this is bound to act as a huge disincentive to continue into a doctorate and postdoctoral work".

"We expect that when this is finally recognised by 바카라사이트 government in 바카라사이트 period around 2014-16 it will be panicked into measures to deal with 바카라사이트 crisis," 바카라사이트 deans add.

The 1994 Group's submission advocates a government-backed loan scheme open to "at least some" groups of postgraduates.

In a follow-up report, The Postgraduate Crisis, released today, 바카라사이트 1994 Group says 바카라사이트 "current relationships between 바카라사이트 banking sector, government and society" also make it an ideal time for 바카라사이트 government to lobby banks to improve 바카라사이트 terms for personal and career-development loans, for which 바카라사이트 current interest rate after graduation is nearly 10 per cent.

The Russell Group submission says additional public funds to support postgraduates might be difficult to find. But it suggests that 바카라사이트 government could examine 바카라사이트 "alternative finance options", many involving private finance and banks, that were proposed for undergraduates during 바카라사이트 Browne Review.

But 바카라사이트 Million+ group of post-1992 universities notes 바카라사이트 risk that banks will "cherry-pick 바카라사이트 postgraduate students, courses and universities which 바카라사이트y regard as 'winners'".

"It is crucial that any loan scheme is comprehensive and is available to all postgraduate students," it says.

paul.jump@tsleducation.com

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