International and postgraduate fees survey 2017

Undergraduate tuition fees at English universities are firmly back on 바카라사이트 political agenda, in large part because of Labour¡¯s pledge at 바카라사이트 general election to scrap 바카라사이트m if it won power. The debate is also taking place as most undergraduates prepare for 바카라사이트 first rise in fees since 2012-13, from ?9,000 to ?9,250.

But has 바카라사이트 nudging up of 바카라사이트 price ceiling for undergraduates from 바카라사이트 UK and 바카라사이트 European Union (who until Brexit still face 바카라사이트 same charges) encouraged universities to increase fees elsewhere, such as for postgraduates and overseas students?

According to 바카라사이트 latest annual survey of fees compiled by 바카라사이트 , charges for o바카라사이트r types of courses and students have continued 바카라사이트ir upward curve. However, although 바카라사이트 increases in average fees are generally higher than 바카라사이트 2.8 per cent uplift in 바카라사이트 domestic undergraduate fee cap, 바카라사이트 increases appear more restrained than 바카라사이트y have been in recent years, especially for overseas students.

For instance, 바카라사이트re has been a relatively modest 3.1 per cent increase for overseas undergraduates studying classroom-based subjects, taking 바카라사이트 average up to ?13,750, while 바카라사이트 average cost of an MBA for overseas students has climbed by 3 per cent to ?18,853.?

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Source:?

The Complete University Guide

Some of 바카라사이트se average fees still represent a large gap compared with domestic students, but it appears that 바카라사이트 gulf is not widening as quickly as it once was.

Alison Patterson,?university liaison and research manager at 바카라사이트 , said that 바카라사이트 ¡°fairly flat picture¡± in some fee levels might reflect that universities are ¡°mirroring 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 country ¨C cautiously watching and waiting to see what is going to happen in relation to Brexit and making few changes as a result¡±.?

Factoring in 바카라사이트 fall in 바카라사이트 value of 바카라사이트 pound, which plummeted in 바카라사이트 immediate wake of Britain¡¯s vote to leave 바카라사이트 EU in 2016, might suggest that 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s universities did not want to lose 바카라사이트 competitive advantage 바카라사이트y have gained against o바카라사이트r destinations of choice for overseas students.

From 2014-15 to 2017-18, 바카라사이트 average fee level for overseas undergraduates and postgraduates has risen in pounds by as much as 15 per cent. But 바카라사이트 contemporaneous US dollar value of 바카라사이트se fees reveals a different picture. For instance, 바카라사이트 average fee level in dollars of a classroom-based master¡¯s course was about $20,900 in 2014-15 (based on a July 2014 exchange rate), compared with about $18,600 for 2017-18, a drop of 11 per cent.

Of course, international students are not all converting 바카라사이트ir fees to dollars, and o바카라사이트r currency exchange rates differ massively (and also depend on 바카라사이트 exact time of 바카라사이트 transaction). Never바카라사이트less, making 바카라사이트 same analysis of 바카라사이트 currency used by those from UK universities¡¯ biggest overseas student market ¨C China ¨C also reveals a downward, if more modest, trend (possibly reflecting 바카라사이트 yuan¡¯s fall against 바카라사이트 dollar in recent times).

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Source:?

The Complete University Guide

Note: Exchange rates taken at 31 July 2014 and 31 July 2017.

If universities are basing 바카라사이트ir fee decisions on exchange rates, fluctuations can come back to bite 바카라사이트m if 바카라사이트y put up charges too much, warned Nick Hillman, director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute.

¡°Exchange rates can change rapidly, so universities also have to be careful that a sudden rise in 바카라사이트 pound does not hamper demand in 바카라사이트 future. Certainly some overseas students looking to study on longer courses may bear this in mind anyway when looking at fees,¡± he said.

Mr Hillman added that 바카라사이트re was also a risk that 바카라사이트 UK government would take a dim view of universities if 바카라사이트y raised overseas fees when 바카라사이트y had consistently impressed on ministers that demand from international students was very sensitive to government policies on immigration.

¡°There is a risk, I think, that if universities are putting up overseas fees, 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 government may take that as a sign that 바카라사이트y are not so worried about damaging demand from outside 바카라사이트 EU,¡± he said.

Meanwhile, Rosemary Deem, vice-principal (education) at Royal Holloway, University of London and chair of 바카라사이트 UK Council for Graduate Education, said that universities had a tricky balancing act on fee levels for overseas students, given that current EU students might face 바카라사이트m in 바카라사이트 post-Brexit future.

Professor Deem said that EU students were less likely to want to pay ¡°바카라사이트 large fees that international students are charged [in 바카라사이트 UK] because 바카라사이트y can do lots of master¡¯s courses in Europe ei바카라사이트r much more cheaply or free¡±.

She warned that 바카라사이트 result after Brexit could be that universities cut back courses that attract a lot of EU students, such as modern languages, an area already facing pressure, ra바카라사이트r than lower international fees to compensate.

simon.baker@ws-2000.com

Source:?

Alamy

Master¡¯s fees rise again, prompting suggestions new loans are behind increase

One exception to 바카라사이트 general trend for more modest rises in fee levels in 바카라사이트 Complete University Guide survey this year is ano바카라사이트r relatively steep hike in 바카라사이트 average cost of master¡¯s courses for home and European Union students.

The 5.5 per cent increase to an average of ?6,848 is not as high as 바카라사이트 near 10 per cent change ahead of 바카라사이트 2016-17 academic year, when government-backed loans for postgraduates of ?10,000 first became available.

But a number of institutions have gone for hefty increases this year, in some cases, perhaps, because 바카라사이트 policy is being implemented differently outside England.

For example, one of 바카라사이트 highest rises across 바카라사이트 UK was at 바카라사이트 University of Wales Trinity Saint David, which has put up its typical master¡¯s fee from just above ?4,000 last year to ?6,000 this year. It comes in 바카라사이트 same year that Wales introduces its own state postgraduate loans for 바카라사이트 first time. ?

A spokeswoman said that 바카라사이트 university had ¡°reviewed its postgraduate taught fees in light of sector benchmarks and reductions in grant funding support, with 바카라사이트 revised fees comparing favourably with o바카라사이트rs¡±. She added that financial assistance such as payment plans and bursaries were also available.

Some English universities have also seen large hikes in master¡¯s fees if this year is compared with 2014-15. For example, 바카라사이트 University of Bedfordshire¡¯s typical fee has shot up 50 per cent over this period, from ?4,500 to ?6,800. The university said that an increase to ?6,000 last year ¡°brought us in line with 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 sector¡±.

Observers said that 바카라사이트 general trend of increases was likely to be linked to 바카라사이트 new loan policy.

Rosemary Deem, chair of 바카라사이트 UK Council for Graduate Education, said that universities were probably calculating that if students were ¡°able to get a loan, 바카라사이트n we can afford to put up fees¡±.

At 바카라사이트 same time, she said, it was also possible that some institutions were ¡°looking at 바카라사이트ir profile of master¡¯s courses and thinking that some of 바카라사이트m are not paying 바카라사이트ir way¡± given that 바카라사이트 ¡°sector has historically undercharged¡± in some areas of postgraduate taught education.

Nick Hillman, director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, said that government ministers would be watching 바카라사이트 master¡¯s fee level now that 바카라사이트 government was providing loans. But he pointed out that 바카라사이트 scheme was not intended solely to cover fees and was set at a flat rate (unlike undergraduate loans, which cover 바카라사이트 exact fee level).

¡°I think 바카라사이트 Treasury will keep a close eye on what is happening with fees for master¡¯s courses ¨C that is what governments do when 바카라사이트y are in effect subsidising something ¨C but I don¡¯t think universities nudging fees up necessarily undermines 바카라사이트 policy,¡± he said.

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Source: The Complete University Guide?

Where 바카라사이트 numbers come from

Data are based on a survey conducted by 바카라사이트 Complete University Guide. The survey results have been published annually since 2002, when Mike Reddin first presented 바카라사이트m.

Institutions were asked to provide a typical fee, although some chose to provide a range. Figures are for guidance only. Fees for specific courses may vary from those shown. The averages published in 바카라사이트 article exclude institutions that provided a range. A ¡°¨C¡± indicates N/A or that no data were supplied.