Student Loans 2012

setmefree2

And in other news

Variable tuition fees for Birmingham City University


Birmingham City University has announced plans for a three-tier price structure in its tuition fees for full-time students from September 2012.
The university is to offer separate price bands of £7,500, £8,200 and £9,000 for its full-time degrees.

All HND, HNC and Foundation courses will cost £6,000.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-13348688

Birmingham is in the Russell Group

dizzie

...and if the off quota places prove lucrative (i.e. if as suggested, they can charge "international" fees of £14k, £18K...even £28k per year for some courses), the universities will then have two focuses: (i) to improve social mobility for those from low income families (as understood already) and (ii) to create and fill as many "off quota" places as possible.

Where will the middle income family stand in all of that?


PS Set Me Free...I'm pleased to hear that Birmingham have tiered their fees for different degree courses based on what they actually cost to deliver. Good to see that they're not jumping on the £9k all round bandwagon.

Anyone seen these figures for projected student payback of debt?

http://conversation.which.co.uk/money/student-fees-degree-decades-debt/

setmefree2

dizzie wrote: »

Anyone seen these figures for projected student payback of debt?

http://conversation.which.co.uk/money/student-fees-degree-decades-debt/

Eye watering Half the cost of the average uk home which is £160k (Link)

mumps

setmefree2 wrote: »

And in other news

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-13348688

Birmingham is in the Russell Group

The University of Birmingham is a Russell Group university. Birmingham City University is different, in my day it was Birmingham Poly.

setmefree2

kayr wrote: »

I echo that sentiment. Perhaps those of us who are horrified by these developments should write to our MPs? An MP is obliged to get an answer from the relevant minister (and they have to give an answer) if we write to them about a specific issue. The more feedback those in Westminster get the better, as they do give the impression of being rather random at times.

You're right. I'm gonna try and contact Andy Burnham today (if I have a spare few minutes).... He's shadow Education secretary but he's not my local MP .....you never know.....

setmefree2

mumps wrote: »

The University of Birmingham is a Russell Group university. Birmingham City University is different, in my day it was Birmingham Poly.

Thanks for that. I misread it

setmefree2

setmefree2 wrote: »

You're right. I'm gonna try and contact Andy Burnham today (if I have a spare few minutes).... He's shadow Education secretary but he's not my local MP .....you never know.....

Done and I've received an automatic response email so I know that it got there. Well at least I've tried!!!

dizzie

Quote by Set Me Free "You're right. I'm gonna try and contact Andy Burnham today (if I have a spare few minutes).... He's shadow Education secretary but he's not my local MP .....you never know....."

Well I've written to my local MP twice in the past 6 months (Julian Smith, Skipton). First time round, I got a "Round Roneo" job which answered none of my specific questions and he couldn't get my name right either. No reply as yet received to my second letter, but I'm not holding out much hope of a coherrent reply>>>:mad:

Update: Have now received a letter back from MP to let me know that he is "making enquiries" on my behalf. At least my name is correct this time. Let's hope I don't receive a "generic response" again (i.e. students will not have to pay anything upfront...only when they are earning....blah, blah). I have asked the specific question, "Why did David Cameron tell the voting public that maximum £9k fees would be the exception, when clearly this is what most universities wish to charge). Since no policy/legislation has been put in place to define "exceptional circumstances" then it seems to me that either Cameron misled the public or the government was naive enough to expect that this statement should have been enough to make Universities voluntarily set fees at a lower level.

kayr_2

dizzie wrote: »

Well I've written to my local MP twice in the past 6 months (Julian Smith, Skipton). First time round, I got a "Round Roneo" job which answered none of my specific questions and he couldn't get my name right either. No reply as yet received to my second letter, but I'm not holding out much hope of a coherrent reply>>>:mad:

That's really bad. Not a good way to get reelected. I was told a while ago that they had to respond and also pass your query on to the relevant department for a proper response if appropriate. In the past I have had quite sensible letters from Kenneth Clarke and the foreign office. Now it is email and my current MP has given me proper responses and even met with David Willetts. Don't think it was just because of my question though! I have also had fairly reasonable responses from various government departments in the past, although you sometimes do get a standard reply which isn't always relevant.
Once I made an appointment to see my MP (Home Secretary at the time) at a surgery - didn't achieve anything really but at least he knew my views!

setmefree2

LSE to consider £8,000 fees after academics' vote


The London School of Economics is to consider becoming the first elite university to charge less than £9,000 fees, after a vote by academics.
LSE's Academic Board voted narrowly in favour of charging £8,000, which means it will now be put as an option to the university's decision-making Council.
The body is due to make its final decision on 25 May.
All the English research-intensive universities in the Russell and 1994 Groups have so far opted for £9,000.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-13360126