News Stories
Top-Up fees a grim reality for 2006
 |
 What are 'top-up fees'
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Wednesday 22nd January 2003 brought
confirmation from the government that from 2006 universities will
be given the power to charge 'top-up' fees. These new fees come
as part of the governments drive to shake up the HE system and
will replace the current £1,100 'tuition fee' set by the
government and paid up front at the beginning of each year. In
contrast to this, 'top up fees' (set by each individual
institution) could be up to £3000 per year, and will be repaid
after graduation, at a rate depending on the earnings of each
student.
Supporters of the initiative hope that because fees no longer
have to be paid up front, it will enable a greater variety of
people from all backgrounds to gain a University degree. To help
maintain this diversity a variety of financial support will be
available, and inclusion targets will be set along with the
appointment of an 'Access regulator, whose job it will be to
monitor their achievements.
| "Students are footing the bill" Mandy Telford |
Not everyone, however is for this
change, and many people are worried that it will be the
students who will feel the effects the most. It has been
estimated that students who go to University under this
new scheme will leave with an average debt of £15,000,
however it is possible that this could be higher at £18,000
-£21,000 depending on the institution chosen. |
| People against this proposal,
including the student's themselves are warning that this
new scheme could also create an elitist system where
students are forced to choose institutions that they can
afford rather than those that they wish to attend.
Another argument against is that applications may also be
dependant on ability to pay rather than ability to learn.
|
"Britain's universities will become a two-tier education system, with universities separated what they can charge and students split by what they can afford Phil Willis, Education Spokesman - Liberal Democrats |
Another change to the Higher Education system
is the re-introduction of maintenance grants, which were initially scrapped by
Labour in 1998. Families with an income of less than £10 000
will qualify for a grant of £1,000 from 2004 on top of their
existing loan entitlement.
All
the proposed changes to Higher Education can be found on the DfES
website (follow link on "links" page)
