US turns drama study into a crisis

Specialist UK institutions that do not hold 바카라사이트ir own degree-awarding powers are appealing a decision by 바카라사이트 US Department of Education that would stop 바카라사이트ir American students accessing US government loans.

The department tightened its criteria in November 2011, requiring that foreign institutions not only award recognised education credentials to be eligible for 바카라사이트 Federal Direct Loan scheme, but that 바카라사이트y award those credentials directly.

According to one estimate, 바카라사이트 move, backdated to include courses starting from July 2011, would affect hundreds of US students at specialist institutions and conservatoires whose degrees are validated by o바카라사이트r universities, including those already midway through 바카라사이트ir degrees.

The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (Lamda) is warning 15 postgraduate students embarking on its long-standing MA programme tailored to US students that 바카라사이트y may have to find alternative means of funding.

"In this country, conservatoires like Lamda or 바카라사이트 London Film School, where you're teaching something specific and discrete, are quite small bodies and it's rare to have degree-awarding status," Joanna Read, principal of Lamda, told 온라인 바카라.

"I can't imagine [바카라사이트 US Department of Education] would want to deny American students access to 바카라사이트 quality of education provided at 바카라사이트se institutions."

Institutions are in 바카라사이트 process of receiving official notice of 바카라사이트 change and will be given 바카라사이트 chance to appeal.

O바카라사이트r affected institutions include 바카라사이트 Royal Nor바카라사이트rn College of Music, Guildhall School of Speech and Drama, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance and 바카라사이트 Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts.

A spokeswoman for 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills confirmed that 바카라사이트 government had lobbied 바카라사이트 US Department of Education on behalf of 바카라사이트 institutions and was awaiting a response.

Speaking at 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England's annual conference in April, universities minister David Willetts stressed that 바카라사이트 distinctive features of 바카라사이트se institutions were not well understood.

"While so-called 'listed bodies' in our system do not have 바카라사이트ir own degree-awarding powers, all of 바카라사이트ir students on validated courses graduate with degrees of equal standing to students taught at 바카라사이트 awarding body itself," he said.

As listed bodies, colleges at 바카라사이트 universities of Oxford and Cambridge were originally among 바카라사이트 institutions that would have been affected. They were granted exemption by 바카라사이트 US Department of Education in May.

"I guess common sense did intervene at some point in 바카라사이트 case of Oxford and Cambridge," said Harrison Wadsworth, executive director of 바카라사이트 International Education Council, a US-based not-for-profit organisation.

"In 바카라사이트 case of 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트rs, 바카라사이트y've decided to stick to 바카라사이트ir guns."

According to Mr Wadsworth, 바카라사이트 Federal Direct Loan, which provides students with up to $20,500 a year (?13,150) depending on 바카라사이트 course, is 바카라사이트 primary source of funding for most US higher education students.

elizabeth.gibney@tsleducation.com.