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| Part-time students still put off university by tuition fees, figures show | Part-time students still put off university by tuition fees, figures show |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| The slump in the number of people attending university part-time is a cause for serious concern, according to senior figures in UK higher education, as it cuts off second chances for talented people to earn a degree. | The slump in the number of people attending university part-time is a cause for serious concern, according to senior figures in UK higher education, as it cuts off second chances for talented people to earn a degree. |
| Official figures published on Thursday showed the number of students taking undergraduate degrees on a part-time basis fell by a further 6% in 2014-15, continuing a steep decline in participation seen since tuition fees nearly tripled in 2012. | Official figures published on Thursday showed the number of students taking undergraduate degrees on a part-time basis fell by a further 6% in 2014-15, continuing a steep decline in participation seen since tuition fees nearly tripled in 2012. |
| The latest fall follows several years of sharp decline – including a 22% fall in 2012-13 when full-time annual fees rose from £3,600 to £9,000-a-year, and another 7% fall in 2013-14. | The latest fall follows several years of sharp decline – including a 22% fall in 2012-13 when full-time annual fees rose from £3,600 to £9,000-a-year, and another 7% fall in 2013-14. |
| As a result just 570,000 people are now studying part-time at British universities – including first degrees, diplomas and postgraduate courses – compared with 824,000 in 2010-11, before the hike in fees took effect. | As a result just 570,000 people are now studying part-time at British universities – including first degrees, diplomas and postgraduate courses – compared with 824,000 in 2010-11, before the hike in fees took effect. |
| “The decline in part-time student numbers remains a serious cause for concern,” said Julia Goodfellow, vice-chancellor of the University of Kent and president of Universities UK, which represents the sector. | “The decline in part-time student numbers remains a serious cause for concern,” said Julia Goodfellow, vice-chancellor of the University of Kent and president of Universities UK, which represents the sector. |
| “The opportunity to study on a part-time basis is vitally important, both for individuals and for the country.” | “The opportunity to study on a part-time basis is vitally important, both for individuals and for the country.” |
| Related: Save part-time students, the Open University's new leader urges MPs | Related: Save part-time students, the Open University's new leader urges MPs |
| At higher education establishments in England alone, the equivalent number of part-time students has fallen from 350,000 in 2010-11 to 203,000 in 2014-15. | At higher education establishments in England alone, the equivalent number of part-time students has fallen from 350,000 in 2010-11 to 203,000 in 2014-15. |
| Sorana Vieru, the NUS vice-president for higher education, said the government was failing to acknowledge this dramatic decline. “Since tuition fees tripled, part-time student numbers have been going down,” she said. | Sorana Vieru, the NUS vice-president for higher education, said the government was failing to acknowledge this dramatic decline. “Since tuition fees tripled, part-time student numbers have been going down,” she said. |
| The decline could continue for several years, with the biggest falls seen in the numbers studying for foundation degrees – introductory courses that enabled students without qualifications to take undergraduate courses – where part-time numbers have collapsed by nearly 50%, from 39,200 in 2011 to 19,800 last year. | |
| Les Ebdon, head of the Office for Fair Access, a watchdog overseeing student admissions, said universities needed to take urgent action to arrest the decline in part-time numbers. | Les Ebdon, head of the Office for Fair Access, a watchdog overseeing student admissions, said universities needed to take urgent action to arrest the decline in part-time numbers. |
| “This is part of a deeply worrying trend which has seen drastic year-on-year reductions in people choosing to study part-time,” Ebdon said. | “This is part of a deeply worrying trend which has seen drastic year-on-year reductions in people choosing to study part-time,” Ebdon said. |
| “If sustained action is not taken now, it may be too late to reverse the trend. This will mean many talented people who missed out on the traditional route into full-time study aged 18 find their route to a second chance at study cut off.” | “If sustained action is not taken now, it may be too late to reverse the trend. This will mean many talented people who missed out on the traditional route into full-time study aged 18 find their route to a second chance at study cut off.” |
| But the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills – which oversees higher education – said it had adopted new policies to encourage part-time students, including eligibility for maintenance loans from 2018-19, and allowing previous graduates to get tuition fee loans to study science, engineering or maths. | But the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills – which oversees higher education – said it had adopted new policies to encourage part-time students, including eligibility for maintenance loans from 2018-19, and allowing previous graduates to get tuition fee loans to study science, engineering or maths. |
| “The reasons for the decline in part-time students is complex but we want to ensure finance will not be a barrier for anybody with the potential to benefit from higher education,” a BIS spokesperson said. | “The reasons for the decline in part-time students is complex but we want to ensure finance will not be a barrier for anybody with the potential to benefit from higher education,” a BIS spokesperson said. |
| Related: Watchdog raises alarm as number of part-time university students falls | Related: Watchdog raises alarm as number of part-time university students falls |
| Ebdon said the government’s moves were positive, but that it should consider “providing student loans in bite-sized chunks” so that students could study for individual modules rather than immediately committing to full degrees. | Ebdon said the government’s moves were positive, but that it should consider “providing student loans in bite-sized chunks” so that students could study for individual modules rather than immediately committing to full degrees. |
| The statistics also showed an unusual fall in the total number of degrees awarded last year, thanks to the dip in undergraduate numbers seen in 2012 after the fee rise. | The statistics also showed an unusual fall in the total number of degrees awarded last year, thanks to the dip in undergraduate numbers seen in 2012 after the fee rise. |
| The proportion of undergraduates receiving firsts or 2:1s continued to rise, from 70% in 2013-14 to 72% in 2014-15. | The proportion of undergraduates receiving firsts or 2:1s continued to rise, from 70% in 2013-14 to 72% in 2014-15. |
| The figures, from the Higher Education Statistics Agency, also showed the number of new overseas students fell a further 3% last year, with those arriving from the US outstripping the number from India for the first time. | The figures, from the Higher Education Statistics Agency, also showed the number of new overseas students fell a further 3% last year, with those arriving from the US outstripping the number from India for the first time. |
| “We could be doing better than this,” Goodfellow said. “It is essential that the UK government presents a welcoming climate for genuine international students and academics.” | “We could be doing better than this,” Goodfellow said. “It is essential that the UK government presents a welcoming climate for genuine international students and academics.” |