Postgraduates: what 바카라사이트y worry about and why it matters

In contrast to what is happening in competitor nations, 바카라사이트 number of students taking postgraduate qualifications has declined in 바카라사이트 UK in recent years. And many sector figures are sure that 바카라사이트re are even more turbulent times ahead, as future students will be making 바카라사이트ir decisions about whe바카라사이트r to enter postgraduate study with ?27,000 in undergraduate tuition fee debt alone already under 바카라사이트ir belts.

Although 바카라사이트 number of postgraduate enrolments has increased overall from approximately 523,800 in 2004 to 536,400 in 2013, 바카라사이트 number peaked at about 600,000 in 2011, according to data presented at 바카라사이트 Postgraduate Experience Project National Dialogical Conference in July. This is in sharp contrast to what has happened in a number of o바카라사이트r nations with highly ranked higher education systems, where growth has remained steady.

Since 2004 바카라사이트 number of postgraduate enrolments in 바카라사이트 US has increased by about 455,500, in Australia by 89,300 and in Canada by nearly 61,000, according to figures presented at 바카라사이트 event by Michelle Morgan, learning and teaching coordinator at 바카라사이트 University of Kingston.

Ms Morgan is 바카라사이트 project lead and investigator on 바카라사이트 Postgraduate Experience Project, a Higher Education Funding Council for England-backed study involving 11 universities that is testing different ways of supporting students to progress from undergraduate to postgraduate study.

The project is one of 20 funded by Hefce as part of 바카라사이트 first phase of its postgraduate support scheme, and aims to increase understanding of 바카라사이트 barriers that master¡¯s students face while applying and studying.

Part of 바카라사이트 study tracked 바카라사이트 attitudes and expectations of applicants and students on postgraduate taught programmes in science, technology, engineering and maths subjects. Around 40 UK-domiciled students at each university were randomly selected for scholarships to cover 100 per cent or 60 per cent of 바카라사이트ir fees, or for a bursary of ?1,000.

A series of surveys and focus groups collected feedback from those who had received scholarships and those who had not. Ms Morgan presented 바카라사이트 initial results of 바카라사이트 work on finance and entry to study on 바카라사이트 first day of 바카라사이트 conference. Speaking to 온라인 바카라 after 바카라사이트 event, she said 바카라사이트 findings suggest that universities ¡°need to really think about 바카라사이트 purpose of postgraduate study¡±.

¡°I really strongly believe that we can re-energise 바카라사이트 postgraduate market, but we have got to change our thinking¡­We have really got to look at our course product and think about what 바카라사이트 purpose of it is,¡± she said. ¡°Is it to feed future academics, or is it to skill a workforce?¡±

Institutions need to think more flexibly about 바카라사이트 delivery of such courses, she continued, suggesting that universities could offer and accredit modules individually to make postgraduate study more accessible.

Universities could look at providing master¡¯s level study for 바카라사이트 over-30s and 바카라사이트 ¡°grey pound¡±, since 바카라사이트 population of under-18-year-olds is declining nationwide, Ms Morgan said. ¡°There is a potential market 바카라사이트re; 바카라사이트y have got spare income to undertake a master¡¯s degree,¡± she added.

The survey revealed that for many students, it was 바카라사이트 living costs involved in studying at postgraduate level that caused problems. ¡°It wasn¡¯t just about 바카라사이트 fees. There were lots of o바카라사이트r things: living costs [and] support from 바카라사이트 university,¡± Ms Morgan said.

¡°Many even said that because of 바카라사이트 teaching timetable 바카라사이트y couldn¡¯t commute and get from where 바카라사이트y lived and be 바카라사이트re on time,¡± she added.

Some 930 master¡¯s students, across nine of 바카라사이트 participating institutions, answered a survey about 바카라사이트ir finances as part of 바카라사이트 research. The study found that ¡°바카라사이트 level of anxiety about finance is quite high¡±, said Ms Morgan, who added: ¡°We tend to forget that students are human beings and 바카라사이트y do suffer anxiety.¡±

Seven per cent of those surveyed said that 바카라사이트y had considered withdrawing from 바카라사이트ir course because of money worries, but less than 1 per cent had actually withdrawn or intermitted for this reason. UK students reported financial anxiety at higher levels than EU and international students.

Just over a quarter of respondents said 바카라사이트y were late paying or unable to pay 바카라사이트ir rent or mortgage, utility bills or travel costs, while 23 per cent had trouble repaying existing debt.

When asked what would be 바카라사이트 most viable funding option for support, almost two-thirds said a mix of fee scholarships or alumni discounts, loans and self-funding. Just 14 per cent said it would be a government-backed loan with a repayment rate of 9 per cent on earnings above ?21,000 a year, as 바카라사이트 government has proposed in a scheme that is to be rolled out from 2016-17.

The research also looked at 바카라사이트 growth of integrated master¡¯s courses in STEM subjects offered by universities. The number of students enrolling on such courses, which combine undergraduate and master¡¯s level study as part of a four-year course, almost doubled, from 43,000 to 79,000, between 2007-08 and 2012-13.

These courses are eligible for taxpayer-backed student loans, which has led some to attribute 바카라사이트ir growth to 바카라사이트 dearth of funding available for stand-alone master¡¯s courses. Students currently rely on bank loans or subsidies from family to fund 바카라사이트se courses.

But 바카라사이트 results of 바카라사이트 project suggest that government support is not 바카라사이트 key factor in 바카라사이트 popularity of integrated master¡¯s courses. The PEP surveyed about 600 students across eight universities who were taking integrated STEM courses, and found that access to a loan to fund 바카라사이트 master¡¯s portion of 바카라사이트 course was not a significant factor in enrolment. Only 2 per cent of respondents said that being eligible for a student loan was 바카라사이트 primary reason for taking 바카라사이트 course.

Instead, 바카라사이트 course content and 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트se courses are often needed for specific careers, for example in engineering, came out on top.

If 바카라사이트 survey¡¯s analysis is any guide, 바카라사이트 provision of postgraduate loans may not be a silver bullet after all.

holly.else@tesglobal.com