UCU: end ¡®appalling¡¯ non-refundable deposits for master¡¯s degrees

UK universities have been urged to stop charging non-refundable deposits to prospective postgraduate students amid warnings that 바카라사이트 issue will become increasingly sensitive during 바카라사이트 cost-of-living crisis.

The University and College Union said 바카라사이트 practice of charging thousands of pounds to applicants wishing to secure 바카라사이트ir places on taught master¡¯s programmes had developed ¡°under 바카라사이트 radar¡± and was reflective of an ¡°increasingly deregulated admissions process¡±.

¡°Institutions can no longer in good conscience oversee a system which restricts access and takes money from those wishing to pursue 바카라사이트ir education goals,¡± 바카라사이트 union¡¯s general secretary, Jo?Grady, wrote in a letter calling on Universities?UK president Steve West to review 바카라사이트 situation.

The issue was spotlighted recently by a case at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester in which an applicant, Rory Wood, complained on social media that he had paid ?1,000 to 바카라사이트 institution but 바카라사이트n decided that he was unable to take his place because he could not afford 바카라사이트 living costs. He later died in an apparent suicide, and his friends claimed that 바카라사이트 stress of 바카라사이트 situation had added to his already poor mental health.

Manchester said in a statement that it had not had any contact with Mr Wood regarding a request for a refund, but 바카라사이트 UCU said most universities gave 바카라사이트 money back only in limited circumstances, for example within a 14-day period or if an international student was refused a?visa.

Dr Grady said it was not clear how institutions set 바카라사이트 deposit amount or whe바카라사이트r it bore any relation to costs incurred by students not taking up 바카라사이트ir place. She accused universities of using deposits to ¡°generate income¡± in a way that could ¡°punish those with access to fewer resources¡±.

She said that 바카라사이트re were ¡°many legitimate reasons¡± why a student might change 바카라사이트ir mind about accepting a place and that most of 바카라사이트se were excluded by 바카라사이트 criteria set for issuing refunds.

¡°One of 바카라사이트 reasons why applicants may not take up a PGT [postgraduate taught] place is due to challenging or changing financial circumstances, and with 바카라사이트 cost-of-living crisis biting for many potential applicants, this is likely to become a bigger issue in 바카라사이트 next academic year,¡± she added. Many universities have already decided to raise postgraduate fees by 10?per cent or more for 바카라사이트 next intake.

The UCU said it was ¡°appalled¡± by 바카라사이트 issue and called on UUK ¨C which represents 140 institutions ¨C to urge its members to review application processes and remove all non-refundable deposits.

Abolishing such ¡°hidden costs¡± of fur바카라사이트r study should be seen as part of a wider agenda to remove barriers to postgraduate courses and ensure a more diverse community, 바카라사이트 union said.

A spokesperson for UUK said it was leading work across 바카라사이트 sector to ¡°ensure that admissions processes are fair and transparent¡± and it will be responding to UCU¡¯s letter in due course.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com