From £1,200 to £2,700, its extortionate.

talksalot81

freebie_junkie wrote:

have you seen an educational psychologist? perhaps you are 'handicapped' as you put it.

No... I wouldnt in a million years consider it a true 'handicap', it just happens that I am a slow writer. I just had to work a bit extra outside of lectures (but that is time everyone should be spending anyhow). It is no different to someone who doesnt understand things immediately. What I guess I am poking at is that there will be a great many people who, strictly speaking, are not in that 'ideal' learning position yet are not given help. If they have the will to succeed, they will find a way. 'Equality' (not specific to disabled help!) just means that the way is laid out and the will is nowhere near as important (and from a real life point of view, this will not be the case).

DrFluffy

anewman wrote:

I think the point Hellz85 was making is that even those who have the slightest of difficulties get a computer and books and photocopy cards and so on paid for. I agree students with difficulties should be given extra support and materials. However, if someone has such a small disability it barely causes them any difficulties and they have a "diagnosis" for that, and someone else who has similar difficulties but no diagnosis (because it does not cause much of a problem in their lives) gets none of that support. (I am not saying there are no people for which dyslexia does not cause substantial difficulty in higher education, and that those difficulties may not always be apparent. Just that there is a continuum starting with those with little difficulties, and some with more.)

I also wonder if that type of financial support is offered regardless of parental and own income?

Also does throwing money at students with a disability really help? Would a better way not be to use the money to wage a specialist support worker within the university to provide one on one help with University work?

These things are not given out on a slight though... The process is long, complicated and very rigourous. I know as I went through it for dyslexia, although made the final decision not to take it or to declare my 'disability' as I've gotten this far on my own steam (picking up a myriad of coping techniques along the way), I didn't want the stigma and effects on job prospects that DO follow... Also, level of help IS means tested.

And a lot of people do get the one-on-one help you suggest. This is VERY expensive, much more so than 'throwing money at a student', and good help is hard to find...

AddieH

freebie_junkie wrote:

on teh subject of raising fees, im paying £1200 for my 3rd year but my mate whose a 2nd year is paying £3000

I don't know if you've elaborated enough on his circumstances for us to assess that one, what was he doing last year? Has he changed courses? Did he move to another university? What is he studying this year?

freebie_junkie

AddieH wrote:

I don't know if you've elaborated enough on his circumstances for us to assess that one, what was he doing last year? Has he changed courses? Did he move to another university? What is he studying this year?

SHE has not doen any of those, shes simply progressed from 1st to 2nd year.

welf_man

Then that is incorrect and should be challenged. She is an "old system" student and should continue on the same fees and support package as for her first year.

Mel.

freebie_junkie

ill tell her that, thanks

Diminutive

The only thing I think is unfair is that gap year students who applied before their gap year and entered into first year this year, are under the "old student" system, and thus only have to pay £1200. Meaning alot of the people on my course are paying less than half of what I am for exactly the same course.