This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/education/8139803.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| 'No fee degrees' university plan | 'No fee degrees' university plan |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| The government is considering "no fee degrees", in which students in England would not pay tuition fees - but would not get any loans or other support. | The government is considering "no fee degrees", in which students in England would not pay tuition fees - but would not get any loans or other support. |
| These could be aimed at university students living at home with their parents, allowing them to avoid debt. | These could be aimed at university students living at home with their parents, allowing them to avoid debt. |
| The proposal is in a draft framework for the future of higher education. | The proposal is in a draft framework for the future of higher education. |
| The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills says it might not be in the final version - and discussion of the plan remains "speculative". | The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills says it might not be in the final version - and discussion of the plan remains "speculative". |
| But university leaders suggest the radical idea remains active and under consultation. | But university leaders suggest the radical idea remains active and under consultation. |
| The National Union of Students says it "has concerns" the new scheme might limit the choice of universities available to poorer students. | The National Union of Students says it "has concerns" the new scheme might limit the choice of universities available to poorer students. |
| The no-fee degrees proposal would offer students the option of avoiding the cost of paying tuition fees, which are £3,225 per year from next year. | The no-fee degrees proposal would offer students the option of avoiding the cost of paying tuition fees, which are £3,225 per year from next year. |
| Quality concern | Quality concern |
| If fees were to be waived in this way, in exchange students would not be able to claim the package of financial support which can include low-interest loans and means-tested bursaries. | If fees were to be waived in this way, in exchange students would not be able to claim the package of financial support which can include low-interest loans and means-tested bursaries. |
| It is anticipated that this might be of interest to the growing number of students who now live at home while studying for degrees. | It is anticipated that this might be of interest to the growing number of students who now live at home while studying for degrees. |
| It might also appeal to students taking higher education courses in further education colleges. | It might also appeal to students taking higher education courses in further education colleges. |
| Poorer students could be stuck in the communities they grew up in Wes Streeting, National Union of Students | Poorer students could be stuck in the communities they grew up in Wes Streeting, National Union of Students |
| The director general of the Russell Group of prestigious universities, Wendy Piatt, said there were concerns that such approaches should not reduce the quality of university courses. | The director general of the Russell Group of prestigious universities, Wendy Piatt, said there were concerns that such approaches should not reduce the quality of university courses. |
| The chair-elect of the 1994 Group of research-intensive universities, Paul Wellings, says he welcomes "a diverse range of higher education provision", but emphasises the importance of maintaining quality. | The chair-elect of the 1994 Group of research-intensive universities, Paul Wellings, says he welcomes "a diverse range of higher education provision", but emphasises the importance of maintaining quality. |
| "To ensure quality any new proposals must be fully funded by government - we will be cautious of any new proposals that result in cut-price, lower quality degrees of a lower value to students, particularly in terms of graduate employability," said Prof Wellings. | "To ensure quality any new proposals must be fully funded by government - we will be cautious of any new proposals that result in cut-price, lower quality degrees of a lower value to students, particularly in terms of graduate employability," said Prof Wellings. |
| Wes Streeting, president of the National Union of Students, told the BBC: "I do worry about the future of higher education when those with the ability to pay to study at an institution elsewhere have the traditional experience - the moving away, the gaining of friends and independence. | Wes Streeting, president of the National Union of Students, told the BBC: "I do worry about the future of higher education when those with the ability to pay to study at an institution elsewhere have the traditional experience - the moving away, the gaining of friends and independence. |
| "Poorer students, on the other hand, could be stuck in the communities they grew up in." | "Poorer students, on the other hand, could be stuck in the communities they grew up in." |
| A spokesman for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills said: "As part of the higher education framework we are considering a number of measures to increase access to higher education and maintain our sector's world class status. | A spokesman for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills said: "As part of the higher education framework we are considering a number of measures to increase access to higher education and maintain our sector's world class status. |
| "Ahead of its publication any discussion of the proposals it will contain are purely speculative." | "Ahead of its publication any discussion of the proposals it will contain are purely speculative." |
| Saving | Saving |
| As well as the framework setting out future priorities, the government is to begin a separate review of student fees in the autumn - trying to reconcile the demands for more funding from the universities with the unpopularity of raising tuition fees. | As well as the framework setting out future priorities, the government is to begin a separate review of student fees in the autumn - trying to reconcile the demands for more funding from the universities with the unpopularity of raising tuition fees. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY Maybe the government should be subsidising people doing degrees for jobs essential to society Heidi, London Send us your comments | |
| At present, universities are not allowed to raise tuition fees above the fixed cap - and the fees review will have to decide whether this upper limit should be raised or removed altogether. | At present, universities are not allowed to raise tuition fees above the fixed cap - and the fees review will have to decide whether this upper limit should be raised or removed altogether. |
| The proposal for a no-fee degree would provide another option - saving the government the expense of financial support, while allowing students and their families to avoid fees and student debt. | The proposal for a no-fee degree would provide another option - saving the government the expense of financial support, while allowing students and their families to avoid fees and student debt. |
| This would depend on students having families that are able and willing to support them. | This would depend on students having families that are able and willing to support them. |
| For parents, it would mean that in financial terms, sending a child to university would be similar to their being in the sixth form at school or college, with the family typically providing accommodation but with no fees for tuition. | For parents, it would mean that in financial terms, sending a child to university would be similar to their being in the sixth form at school or college, with the family typically providing accommodation but with no fees for tuition. |
| There have been warnings that students from poorer families are more debt averse and this could have the appeal of a simple system, with no debts attached. | There have been warnings that students from poorer families are more debt averse and this could have the appeal of a simple system, with no debts attached. |
| But it is also likely to raise concerns about inequalities in the student funding system - with different students facing different levels of debts. | But it is also likely to raise concerns about inequalities in the student funding system - with different students facing different levels of debts. |
| There is growing pressure on the university system - and increasingly urgent calls for more funding. | There is growing pressure on the university system - and increasingly urgent calls for more funding. |
| The downturn in the jobs market has sparked a surge of applications for university, with warnings that this is going to create a demand that cannot be met. | The downturn in the jobs market has sparked a surge of applications for university, with warnings that this is going to create a demand that cannot be met. |
| Universities have been calling for extra funding to provide more places, but the government faces its own pressures on public spending. | Universities have been calling for extra funding to provide more places, but the government faces its own pressures on public spending. |
| University 'on the cheap' | University 'on the cheap' |
| Member of the UK Youth Parliament, James Greenhalgh, 18, said: "This could be great news for those students who are planning to stay at home anyway, but it is frightening to think how many students would end up choosing a local university, regardless of whether it is the right option for them, because they want to avoid paying tuition fees. | Member of the UK Youth Parliament, James Greenhalgh, 18, said: "This could be great news for those students who are planning to stay at home anyway, but it is frightening to think how many students would end up choosing a local university, regardless of whether it is the right option for them, because they want to avoid paying tuition fees. |
| "We shouldn't be trying to tempt students with 'university on the cheap'. They should be able to choose the right course for them, at the right university for them. | "We shouldn't be trying to tempt students with 'university on the cheap'. They should be able to choose the right course for them, at the right university for them. |
| "UK Youth Parliament research has shown that a third of young people are already making their university choices based on cost. This figure would rocket if students have 'no fee degrees' waved at them." | "UK Youth Parliament research has shown that a third of young people are already making their university choices based on cost. This figure would rocket if students have 'no fee degrees' waved at them." |