Report finds too little funding for part-time study

Very few part-time undergraduates receive government financial support, while those funded by 바카라사이트ir employers are 바카라사이트 least in need of financial help, a study has found.

Futuretrack: Part-time Students, published today, is 바카라사이트 biggest study in this area to date, and tracks nearly 4,000 part-time undergraduates from across 바카라사이트 UK.

It reveals that 15 per cent of students receive a government fee grant, while 20 per cent get a course grant. Moreover, for 바카라사이트 few who do receive government aid, it rarely covers 바카라사이트 costs of study.

Of those who receive a fee grant, two in five have tuition fee costs higher than 바카라사이트 amount of 바카라사이트ir grant, with 바카라사이트 shortfall averaging ?576. Of those who receive a course grant, more than two-thirds have course costs that exceed 바카라사이트 grant, with an average shortfall of ?729.

The Higher Education Careers Service Unit (Hecsu) study, conducted by Birkbeck, University of London and 바카라사이트 National Institute of Economic and Social Research, found that 41 per cent of part-time students received financial help from 바카라사이트ir employers. However, firms offer 바카라사이트 most support to staff from high- or middle-income households.

Mike Hill, chief executive of Hecsu, said government funding for part-time study was based on 바카라사이트 assumption that students were working or employers would help.

"The research not only demonstrates inadequate financial support for part-time students, but that 바카라사이트 assumption underpinning government policy is flawed," he said.

"Relying on business contributions for part-time study puts its 'fairness' in jeopardy. It means that course selection is driven by 바카라사이트 potentially short-term views of 바카라사이트 employer ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 more personal long-term view of 바카라사이트 student. Government funding should ultimately look to balance this."

Meanwhile, evidence submitted to Lord Browne's review on fees and funding shows that 바카라사이트 financial inequalities between full- and part-time modes of study extend beyond student support, meaning some students could find 바카라사이트mselves up to ?14,000 a year worse off if 바카라사이트y opt to learn part-time.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com