Student Loans 2012

mumps

setmefree2 wrote: »

Thanks for that. I misread it

No worries, it is confusing.

setmefree2

Universities 'could offer cut-price fees during clearing'

Universities could be allowed to offer students cut-price fees during the clearing process, the Universities Minister has indicated.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/universityeducation/8508502/Universities-could-offer-cut-price-fees-during-clearing.html

The move could encourage undergraduates to hold off until the last minute to apply for places in the hope of picking up bargain degrees, prompting a scramble after exam results are published.

Aaron Porter, President of the National Union of Students, said the policy would turn clearing into a “flea market”, plunging candidates into “unnecessary panic and grotesque unfairness”.

Same story Independent

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/exclusive-the-great-university-clearance-sale-2282713.html

setmefree2

University leavers are increasingly taking non-graduate jobs, according to research.
Six months after leaving university, about 40% of last year's graduates were "underemployed" in lower-skilled jobs, up from about 30% four years before.

The research, carried out by the Centre for Economics and Business Research, forecasts a worsening jobs market for graduates who will leave this summer.
It warns that 55% of the next wave of university leavers will either be working in non-graduate jobs, or will be unemployed, six months after they finish at university.
"If we are asking people to invest £9,000 a year on tuition fees, they should expect a credible return on that investment”
Jane Scott Paul Association of Accounting Technicians
The report says this raises doubts about the financial value of degrees.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-13361769

setmefree2

White Paper should be out before end of July

Mr Willetts told the questioner at the Higher Education Policy Institute conference that he would be "very surprised" if it was not out before the parliamentary recess begins in late July.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-13387242

kayr_2

I am interested in making a few comments when it does come out! OK they won't do what I think they should, but it can't harm things if they get lots of people's opinions - after all they will have half an eye on the next election so can't afford to upset absolutely everyone.So I asked my MP about the "consultation process" and got this reply:

I have contacted the office of David Willetts MP, Minister of State for Universities and Science and have been informed that there will be a White Paper later on this year on student finance and further education. Alongside the White Paper there will also be a consultation processes for which you can add your opinion and comments.
As yet, no formal date has been arranged, however we will inform you when it opens up. In the mean-time please do not hesitate to contact the office should you require any further information.

setmefree2

More A grade university applicants to get first choice as ministers end cap on bright pupils

Ministers are to axe a cap on the number of bright pupils a university can admit, enabling more A grade applicants to get their first choice of university.

Universities will be able to recruit as many British and European Union students they wish from 2012, proved the youngsters have AAB at A level, or higher.

As a result universities like Oxford, Cambridge, Bristol and Imperial will not have to turn-down straight A youngsters due to a lack of places.

High achievers: Top universities like Cambridge, above, will be able to admit more pupils. Some 3,500 pupils with three A grades did not get a single offer last year

The knock-on effect will be that lesser performing universities, who have historically mopped up the brightest students rejected from elite institutions, will have fewer high-achievers.

And as the number of students at the best universities increases, the numbers of lower-grade universities will fall.

In addition, the cap on places would be lifted for courses charging fees of £6,000 or less, giving institutions an incentive to charge lower fees.

The Department for Business, Skills and Innovation yesterday confirmed the plan will be included in the coalition’s White Paper on higher education, due to be published in June.

Under the plans the places that are currently filled by pupils with AAB or higher will be exempt from the maximum allocated number of students, as set by the Higher Education Funding Council for England.

For example, Bristol University, at which 88 per cent of students have AAB or higher at A-Level , would only have 12 per cent of current places distributed by HEFCE. But it could recruit unlimited numbers with AAB or higher.

Ministers believe that only a few of the most selective universities would increase undergraduate numbers.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1387697/More-A-grade-university-applicants-choice-ministers-end-cap-bright-pupils.html#ixzz1Mck50wcD

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1387697/More-A-grade-university-applicants-choice-ministers-end-cap-bright-pupils.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

setmefree2

Is it worth it? Value of degree questioned as research shows two-in-three graduates fail to find suitable work

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1387840/Is-worth-Value-degree-questioned-research-shows-graduates-fail-suitable-work.html#ixzz1McggHPhe

setmefree2

Oxford University academics are seeking a symbolic vote of "no confidence" against the government's handling of higher education in England.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-13414756

Amen to that

stedwell

melancholly wrote: »

as much as i detest what they're doing, i want to just add again that the loan repayments will be a proportion of income. there will be no crippling repayments - if someone loses their job, the repayments will automatically stop. no other loan works like that. (if they change that aspect, i think i'll just give up! it's the only thing that makes the situation bearable as opposed to an unmitigated disaster...)

But look at it this way - teacher's pensions going up to maybe 10% of income. With the student loan that is 20% gone before tax deductions. How many graduates are going to become teachers of the future with those figures?:(

Lokolo

http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/news/Students-face-uni-fees-163-25k/article-3574264-detail/article.html

Official Announcement - http://www.staffs.ac.uk/about_us/news_and_events/staffordshire-university-announces-a-better-deal-for-students-tcm4237725.jsp

£7,490-a-year for classroom-based degrees, such as business and modern history;

£7,990-a-year for lab, studio-based and resource-intensive subjects. These include subjects like engineering, forensic science, and photography;

£8,490 per year for 'nationally leading' courses, such as journalism and film production technology, where Staffordshire University has been ranked as one of the best places to study that subject;

£8,890-a-year for fast-track degrees. The university points out these courses will still work out as cheaper because students are charged two years of fees instead of three years.

Interesting! Wonder which my course falls under.