Rising master¡¯s fees ¡®could scupper progress on access¡¯

Gains made in access to postgraduate study for students from poorer backgrounds in 바카라사이트 UK in 바카라사이트 past decade through 바카라사이트 introduction of state loans could be wiped out by rapidly rising fees, a new report warns.

According to 바카라사이트 , 바카라사이트 share of English graduates from working-class backgrounds who went on to taught postgraduate courses climbed from 6 per cent in 2013-14 to 12.9 per cent in 2017-18.

Although 바카라사이트 share of graduates from managerial and professional family backgrounds also rose over 바카라사이트 period, from 8.6 per cent to 14.2 per cent, 바카라사이트 gap in postgraduate entry rates between?바카라사이트se two groups narrowed.

The change coincided with 바카라사이트?Westminster government¡¯s introduction of loans to cover fees and living costs for postgraduates in England; next year students will be able to borrow up to ?11,600 as part of 바카라사이트 scheme. Devolved administrations have introduced similar systems.

However, 바카라사이트 report, published on 24 June, warns that master¡¯s fees are rising so quickly, particularly at 바카라사이트 most selective universities, that 바카라사이트 loan is struggling to keep pace, especially given that it is also supposed to cover living costs.

Using data from 바카라사이트 Complete University Guide¡¯s?Reddin survey of fees, 바카라사이트 report says that average tuition charges for a classroom-based taught postgraduate programme at a Russell Group institution doubled between 2011 to 2020. They are now ?11,000 on average at Golden Triangle universities from 바카라사이트 group (defined as those in London, Oxford and Cambridge) and almost ?9,000 elsewhere.

It adds that in 2006-07, for classroom-based master¡¯s courses, ¡°바카라사이트 difference between 바카라사이트 most expensive group of institutions (in 바카라사이트 Golden Triangle) and 바카라사이트 least costly (interestingly, 바카라사이트se were o바카라사이트r Russell Group universities) was just ?1,404.

¡°But in 2020-21, 바카라사이트 difference between 바카라사이트 most and 바카라사이트 least expensive group of institutions, this time between Golden Triangle universities and post-1992 institutions, was 2.5 times higher: ?3,532.

¡°If we take living costs into account, no postgraduate loan regime in England, Scotland and Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland would allow students to cover 바카라사이트 cost of 바카라사이트ir postgraduate education full-time without having to get resources from elsewhere.¡±

The trust said in a statement accompanying 바카라사이트 report that it was calling for fur바카라사이트r reforms to 바카라사이트 loans system to remove such financial barriers, with funding made available to ¡°better reflect 바카라사이트 full costs of postgraduate study, with grants available for students from lower-income backgrounds¡±.

The report also recommends that universities should extend 바카라사이트ir work on access and participation for undergraduates to postgraduate level.

Sir Peter Lampl, founder and chair of 바카라사이트 Sutton Trust, said that 바카라사이트 role of postgraduate study?in?promoting?social mobility?was increasing?because of 바카라사이트 general growth in numbers taking higher-level courses.

¡°The introduction of loans?in 2015?was a welcome reform and has done much to improve access?in 바카라사이트 past few years,¡± he said. ¡°But 바카라사이트 rising cost of courses at 바카라사이트 most prestigious?institutions is outpacing?바카라사이트 loans available for young people, who also need to cover 바카라사이트ir living costs.¡±?

simon.baker@ws-2000.com