Student Loans 2012

The_One_Who

The problem isn't so much with undergraduates, but more to do with the way research is now being funded. It's a bit of a combination between the two. Most departments want to be doing something other than teaching, especially since research is why most academics are in the profession and it's why they get their postgraduate students. Funding for arts, humanities and some social sciences are being cut to the bone, simply because they cannot demonstrate 'impact' or 'relevance for society' in the near future.

If a department isn't deemed to be financially viable then they can end up being closed (think of all the chemistry departments that closed due to lack of students a few years ago), or merged with others as part of restructure plans, which usually end up pleasing no one.

setmefree2

The terrifying debt facing students: How a degree can cost you £52,000

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1379364/University-tuition-fees-Degree-cost-52k.html#ixzz1KETZEed4

Same Article

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/consumertips/8465948/University-students-to-spend-over-48500-for-degree.html

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/242205/Rising-rents-send-cost-of-degree-to-more-than-52k

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5g6LwBkqfg00eqJ08aUogM9KPlzeQ?docId=N0062431303395906070A

Derivative

The problem with social mobility: not only does it mean the poor getting up the ladder, it also means those well off will have to move over to make room.

It is fairly well known that if you could put the same student through both state and private education, the privately educated student would gain far better exam results. And that is a simplification - replace schooling with upbringing, articulate parents with those not so well-read, and you will see the same (on average).

What this doesn't necessarily mean is that they are more talented, or have more potential on a degree course - which is what tutors aim to assess, after all.

It may seem unfair that you are "discriminated against" for giving your children a head start - but remember that that's not the aim. The aim is that all are put on an equal footing. You don't see straight C students flying into Russell Group universities, regardless of background.

I may have already posted in this thread a while ago, but thought I'd comment on the Daily Mail tosh being posted.

£52k for a degree is not that expensive if repaid in good time. The issue comes if you end up paying off far in excess of that due to interest repayments.

After all, £52k works out to about a £1500 per year 'degree premium' on work. Hardly excessive.

wintersunshine

EdgEy wrote: »

I may have already posted in this thread a while ago, but thought I'd comment on the Daily Mail tosh being posted.

£52k for a degree is not that expensive if repaid in good time. The issue comes if you end up paying off far in excess of that due to interest repayments.

After all, £52k works out to about a £1500 per year 'degree premium' on work. Hardly excessive.

LOL £52k is not not much blah blah blah... you sound like a used car sales man....



Did you sell endowments,PPI, etc in a previous life....

Derivative

wintersunshine wrote: »

LOL £52k is not not much blah blah blah... you sound like a used car sales man....

Did you sell endowments,PPI, etc in a previous life....

As I've stated already, £52k over a working life is less than £1500 per year, not withstanding interest payments (I believe charging over RPI is too much, that is a seperate issue).

Do you really think a degree adds less than £1500 per year to the average salary?

I am a current student, paying £3k per year. I would be glad to pay 9k on the current system, if early repayment was allowed and the cap remained at £15k instead of £21k (trapping people in their debts for longer, and resulting in a permanent 9% pay dock).

Don't get me wrong, I'm glad I'm on the lower fees and incredibly lucky - but as long as access is kept open (i.e, payment can be deferred) I see no problem with the cost of a degree rising.

Lokolo

My uni hasn't announced fees yet, leaving it a little late!

Derivative

Lokolo wrote: »

My uni hasn't announced fees yet, leaving it a little late!

To be honest I think the Government should have just set fees to £9k for all, rather than this silly system that is clearly crafted to allow them to claim the Universities themselves are charging an excess amount. It was completely obvious what was going to happen considering the funding cuts.

The fact that people seemed to expect "elites" to charge top dollar while the ex-polytechnics would be cheaper is even more ridiculous. Pushing the poor away from the top Universities in favour of "bargain basement degrees" is exactly the opposite of what we need to be doing.

Lokolo

EdgEy wrote: »

To be honest I think the Government should have just set fees to £9k for all, rather than this silly system that is clearly crafted to allow them to claim the Universities themselves are charging an excess amount. It was completely obvious what was going to happen considering the funding cuts.

The fact that people seemed to expect "elites" to charge top dollar while the ex-polytechnics would be cheaper is even more ridiculous. Pushing the poor away from the top Universities in favour of "bargain basement degrees" is exactly the opposite of what we need to be doing.

If my uni charges £9k people won't go. For starters, half the courses are in Stoke-on-Trent - who wants to pay £9k to do a course there!? :cool:

Derivative

Lokolo wrote: »

If my uni charges £9k people won't go. For starters, half the courses are in Stoke-on-Trent - who wants to pay £9k to do a course there!? :cool:

My local Uni is charging £9k.
The institution itself isn't too bad, the location however...
Who'd choose to live in Hull?

melancholly

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-13193652

it looks like the government won't have to cut places; just increasing the fees will cut student numbers all on it's own if this is to be believed...... and will harm access. (not surprising but interesting to see some actual evidence rather than all of us posturing about it! )