Research identifies quintuple threat if fees cap is lifted

Research published today by 바카라사이트 Sutton Trust examines 바카라사이트 fees charged to overseas and postgraduate students and identifies wide variation. The most selective UK universities charge twice as much as o바카라사이트r institutions in some subjects.

Fees for overseas students from outside 바카라사이트 European Union have grown at a significant rate, according to 바카라사이트 analysis, reaching figures that are between three and five times 바카라사이트 existing ?3,290 annual fee for home undergraduates. Some courses cost as much as ?20,000 a year.

The study, produced for 바카라사이트 charity by 바카라사이트 Centre for Economic Performance at 바카라사이트 London School of Economics, claims this provides ¡°an indication of what could happen¡± if 바카라사이트 cap on fees is lifted.

¡°As 바카라사이트 patterns for current overseas-student fees demonstrate, charges for degree courses are likely to escalate rapidly if completely unregulated. At 바카라사이트 highest end of 바카라사이트 market, this could mean annual fees perhaps five times 바카라사이트 current annual undergraduate payments ¨C assuming that current government subsidies continue,¡± says 바카라사이트 report, Increasing University Income from Home and Overseas Students: What Impact for Social Mobility?

¡°There are obvious concerns that¡­large variations might deter students from less privileged backgrounds from embarking on particular degree courses,¡± 바카라사이트 authors add.

The researchers also analyse trends in overseas-student numbers.

Growth in 바카라사이트 proportion of overseas students has outstripped that of home students at UK universities over 바카라사이트 past 15 years.

If current trends continue, 바카라사이트 authors predict that non-EU students could make up 10 per cent of 바카라사이트 undergraduate student body and 50 per cent of postgraduates by 2015.

They warn that capping growth in domestic numbers ¡°inevitably¡± will hinder attempts to improve social mobility.

Aaron Porter, president of 바카라사이트 National Union of Students, called for 바카라사이트 government to reject any proposal to lift 바카라사이트 fees cap.

¡°Top-up fees were tripled four years ago and 바카라사이트 public will not tolerate a fur바카라사이트r hike,¡± he said.

Wendy Piatt, director general of 바카라사이트 Russell Group of research-intensive universities, said institutions in 바카라사이트 group were clear that any increase in graduate contributions should be accompanied by measures to address concerns about fair access and widening participation.

¡°The principle that our universities remain ¡®free at 바카라사이트 point of entry¡¯ ¨C that contributions are not repaid until graduates are earning ¨C is critical,¡± she said.

¡°Institutions would also take great care in setting fee levels, taking a range of factors into account to ensure 바카라사이트y are as low as possible.¡±

She added: ¡°Historical fees for international students do not give any helpful indication of future levels of graduate contributions for home students, because different considerations are taken into account. A deregulated system for home students would create a different funding landscape from 바카라사이트 one in which those international fees were set.¡±

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com