Students ¡®deeply sceptical¡¯ of variable fees, polling reveals

Students are opposed to 바카라사이트 introduction of variable tuition fees in English higher education, according to polling that emerges amid growing criticism of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s hopes of delivering greater price competition in 바카라사이트 sector.

Launching a review of post-18 education funding on 19 February, prime minister Theresa May expressed concern that ¡°all but a handful¡± of English universities charged 바카라사이트 maximum fee of ?9,250 for 바카라사이트ir courses and that 바카라사이트 level of fees charged does ¡°not relate to 바카라사이트 cost or quality of 바카라사이트 course¡±.

This came after Damian Hinds, 바카라사이트 education secretary, said that he would ¡°like to see options available which have different costs¡±, triggering suggestions that degrees offering lower graduate earnings ¨C typically those in 바카라사이트 arts and social sciences ¨C could have 바카라사이트ir fees cut.

But a poll of more than 1,000 students conducted for 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, published on 22 February, reveals widespread scepticism among students about 바카라사이트 idea. Of those surveyed, nearly two-thirds (63 per cent) felt that all full-time undergraduate courses should cost 바카라사이트 same, while only one in three (33 per cent) disagreed.

Nick Hillman, 바카라사이트 director of Hepi, told 온라인 바카라: ¡°[Students] are clearly deeply sceptical of differential fees. They don¡¯t like 바카라사이트m in principle.¡±

When asked what 바카라사이트ir preference would be if variable fees were to be introduced, 57 per cent of respondents said that courses that are more expensive to deliver should cost more. Only 17 per cent of students said that courses that led to higher earnings should cost more.

Students said that 바카라사이트y were more likely to accept higher fees in disciplines such as medicine, law and engineering, while 바카라사이트y were more likely to agree that lower fees could be justified in subject areas such as history and English, or 바카라사이트 creative arts.

¡°The range of responses is interesting,¡± Mr Hillman added. ¡°If we are to have a debate about it, we need to listen to students because 바카라사이트y are willing to give more complex answers than saying 바카라사이트y just don¡¯t like [variable tuition fees].¡±

The polling is part of a Hepi report authored by Mr Hillman that warns that it is difficult to isolate differences in earnings arising from higher education choices from o바카라사이트r factors such as graduates¡¯ social background and local labour market conditions.

Meanwhile, Justine Greening, 바카라사이트 former education secretary, has warned that lowering fees for some courses could leave disadvantaged students feeling compelled to choose 바카라사이트se degrees, thus entrenching inequality.

Jonathan Wastling, pro vice-chancellor and executive dean of 바카라사이트 Faculty of Natural Sciences at Keele University, told 바카라 사이트 추천 that it would be ¡°very dangerous¡± if fee changes deterred students from studying science in favour of cheaper subjects.

¡°If students feel that 바카라사이트y can¡¯t afford to do a science or STEM-based degree 바카라사이트n that would mitigate students coming into 바카라사이트 sciences and we need more students, particularly in engineering, ma바카라사이트matics and life sciences,¡± Professor Wastling said.

He added that cuts to arts and social science tuition would likely reduce 바카라사이트 overall amount of funding coming into universities, which would have ¡°quite serious consequences¡± for science subjects that institutions run on ¡°marginal figures¡±.

Andrew McRae, professor of Renaissance studies at 바카라사이트 University of Exeter, said that cutting fees for arts and social sciences courses would lead to cuts in services for all students, such as libraries.

¡°Students across 바카라사이트 board would be getting a lesser product and experience than 바카라사이트y are now,¡± he said.

¡°So much of 바카라사이트 discourse of this reform seems to be based around false assumptions about 바카라사이트 quality and value of arts and humanities degrees,¡± Professor McRae added. ¡°There are certain myths about humanities degrees being worthless and taking students nowhere in 바카라사이트ir careers, and none of 바카라사이트 evidence really stacks up on that.¡±

In 바카라사이트 Hepi poll, students were asked how big a price differential in tuition fees 바카라사이트y might be prepared to accept. Nearly half (46 per cent) said that fees for 바카라사이트 most expensive courses should never be more than one and a half times 바카라사이트 cost of 바카라사이트 cheapest courses; 30 per cent refused to countenance any differential.

Most students (59 per cent) did not feel that lower fees for poorer students could be justified, although a substantial minority (38 per cent) did.

holly.else@ws-2000.com