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Surrey University blames £9,000 tuition fees on cuts | Surrey University blames £9,000 tuition fees on cuts |
(1 day later) | |
Surrey University has become the fifth institution to announce it intends to charge maximum fees of £9,000 a year from 2012, blaming budget cuts. | |
It said it faced a 60% cut to teaching funds and 70% to its capital grant. | It said it faced a 60% cut to teaching funds and 70% to its capital grant. |
The university said it was also worried about the impact of proposed changes to visa rules, which could reduce income from international students. | The university said it was also worried about the impact of proposed changes to visa rules, which could reduce income from international students. |
The government has warned that, if too many universities charge £9,000, it may have to cut teaching grants further. | The government has warned that, if too many universities charge £9,000, it may have to cut teaching grants further. |
Surrey University follows Oxford, Imperial College, Durham and Exeter, which have already said they want to charge the maximum yearly tuition fee. | |
Also, governing bodies at Cambridge and Liverpool - and according to documents seen by the local press, Leeds - are preparing to vote on proposals to charge £9,000 per year. | |
No institutions have yet named fees below £9,000, although Liverpool Hope has said it will not charge the maximum. | No institutions have yet named fees below £9,000, although Liverpool Hope has said it will not charge the maximum. |
In a statement, Surrey University said analysis indicated that it needed to charge £9,000 to ensure it compensated for the cuts. | In a statement, Surrey University said analysis indicated that it needed to charge £9,000 to ensure it compensated for the cuts. |
Future fears | Future fears |
It said it would offer a package of bursaries and fee waivers for students on low incomes, but listed the cost of activities to widen participation among the reasons for setting the highest possible fees. | It said it would offer a package of bursaries and fee waivers for students on low incomes, but listed the cost of activities to widen participation among the reasons for setting the highest possible fees. |
Universities charging higher-level fees must commit to an "access agreement" specifying the measures they will take to draw in students from disadvantaged backgrounds. | Universities charging higher-level fees must commit to an "access agreement" specifying the measures they will take to draw in students from disadvantaged backgrounds. |
The university said it was taking account of possible changes to student visas, which it said could lead to a 20% cut in overseas students costing the university about £3m, and further potential cuts to student numbers, or teaching and research funding. | The university said it was taking account of possible changes to student visas, which it said could lead to a 20% cut in overseas students costing the university about £3m, and further potential cuts to student numbers, or teaching and research funding. |
However, Surrey also said it wished "to avoid the very real danger that charging less than £9,000 will have a negative impact on the perception of our quality". | However, Surrey also said it wished "to avoid the very real danger that charging less than £9,000 will have a negative impact on the perception of our quality". |
Vice-chancellor Christopher Snowden said the priority was to "safeguard the quality of the student experience" while ensuring access was based "only on merit and not the ability to afford a high-quality education". | Vice-chancellor Christopher Snowden said the priority was to "safeguard the quality of the student experience" while ensuring access was based "only on merit and not the ability to afford a high-quality education". |
Universities Minister David Willetts has said universities should charge higher fees "in exceptional circumstances". | Universities Minister David Willetts has said universities should charge higher fees "in exceptional circumstances". |
But some experts expect the majority of universities to opt for £9,000. | But some experts expect the majority of universities to opt for £9,000. |
University of Surrey Students' Union President Malcolm Hunt said: "Whilst it is disappointing to know that future Surrey students will have to pay almost thre times the level of fees of students today, it has not come as a great shock. | |
"Huge government cuts to university funding and new regulations on how universities use their fees have led to a system that firmly encourages the maximum fee to be charged across institutions." | |
Usman Ali, National Union of Students vice-president, said: "With every additional university that joins the '£9k club', the government's assertion that their rushed plans would be a good deal for students collapses further." | Usman Ali, National Union of Students vice-president, said: "With every additional university that joins the '£9k club', the government's assertion that their rushed plans would be a good deal for students collapses further." |
Ministers have warned that universities should not all seek to charge the maximum, as the funding for student finance is based on an average fees level of £7,500. | Ministers have warned that universities should not all seek to charge the maximum, as the funding for student finance is based on an average fees level of £7,500. |
This would mean higher spending for the government as it shoulders the cost of subsidised student loans, which are paid off after graduation. | This would mean higher spending for the government as it shoulders the cost of subsidised student loans, which are paid off after graduation. |
Mr Willetts has said universities may face further cuts to their teaching grants if they set fees too high. | Mr Willetts has said universities may face further cuts to their teaching grants if they set fees too high. |
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