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Universities says increase in tuition fee would not be unreasonable

AZ — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:43:03 +0000

Leading universities are hoping to win the freedom to impose big increases in what they charge to students from teaching after a review of the fees began Last weak.

The review, which is not expected to report until after the election, is being led by former BP chief executive Lord Browne of Madingley, who has said in the past that a fourfold increase, it would be unreasonable.

Vice-Chancellors and other scholars were careful not to put a figure on the maximum they can charge the students, saying the independent review should consider the evidence first. The top universities made it clear they were waiting for the freedom to raise fares substantially.

The Russell Group, representing the university-based research, called the current ceiling of unviable. “Our main institutions can not remain competitive internationally, provide a first experience in teaching and the level of generous support to provide disadvantaged students do not have access to greater funding,” said Wendy Piatt, director of the group, Overall, he said.

Steve Smith, president of Universities UK, said universities “must receive adequate funding to remain world class and changes in the system of fees should consider the implications for widening participation.”

The choice of Lord Browne, to chair the review appeared to be another indication that major universities, in particular, would benefit from the new fee regime. In 2002 called for increased funding, perhaps by a factor of four, although this was before variable fees were introduced.

He also urged a greater proportion of funds to be allocated to the investigation, said the quality of teaching should be improved.

Lord Browne’s appointment was welcomed by the CBI, which published a report two months ago saying that principals believe that the maximum rates of £ 5,000 a year would not prevent students from applying.

He and the other six members of the review announced by Lord Mandelson, the Secretary of activity, will have a broad mandate to discuss the challenges facing higher education and its impact on the funding of students. The investigation did not report until autumn next year because the original date of next summer. The terms were agreed between Lord Mandelson and the Conservatives, who have said they will not be bound by its conclusions if they win office, but want a thorough investigation.

Scope of review that will include part-time study. These represent 43 percent of the students, but are not able to apply for student loans and must pay tuition in advance.

Stephen Williams, universities Liberal Democrat spokesman said: “This test is nothing but a conspiracy between the Labor and Conservative plans designed to keep hiking up the fees on the agenda until after the general election .

Professor Les Ebdon, chair of million +, which represents new universities, said the timing of the review must not stifle debate on funding. “Political parties can not hide behind this fix rates,” he said.

Wes Streeting, president of the National Union of Students, said: “Members of the review should be in no doubt about the scale of public opposition to a hike in rates and the level of anger among students.”

England Universities getting a blow from foreign rival institutions

AZ — Wed, 13 May 2009 06:21:16 +0000

British universities have slipped down the world rankings as they compete ever harder with eminent institutions overseas.

Cambridge and Oxford have lost ground to Harvard and Yale, while fewer British universities are in the top 200 list, published today, than last year.

At a time when it is essential for British institutions to attract lucrative international students who pay higher fees, they are being outdone increasingly by American universities that receive huge endowments.
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Harvard tops the Times Higher Education-QS World University Rankings for the fifth consecutive year. Its endowment fund is greater than the total annual public funding for all universities in England.

Yale holds the second spot after being joint second with Cambridge and Oxford last year. The two British institutions came third and fourth respectively this year.

Four British universities are in the top 10, the same as last year. Imperial College London fell from fifth to sixth place while University College London rose from ninth to seventh.

In all, 17 universities in Britain made it into the top 100 list, down from 19 last year. More than a third of the top 100 are based in the US.

Vice-chancellors and commentators voiced concern that, without an increase in investment, Britain’s standing as a first-class destination for higher education could be under threat.

Wendy Piatt, director-general of the Russell Group of leading universities, said that its members were performing well against international rivals, adding: “The table reflects the growing strength of our major competitors – particularly the US institutions – which benefit from much higher levels of investment than UK universities.

“Without increased investment there is a real danger that the UK’s success will not be sustained.

“As a result of huge investment in higher education and science in recent years, China already looks set to overtake the UK very soon in terms of total research publications, and its universities have been steadily climbing up international league tables.”

The Times Higher Education-QS World University Rankings had 29 British universities in the top 200, one fewer than last year. Of these, 22 had slipped down the rankings. The rise of Asian institutions is reflected in the inclusion of nine of them within the top 50, including three based in Hong Kong. Two new entrants this year are Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and Seoul National University.

A spokesman for Quacquarelli Symonds, which conducted the research, said that its findings also reflected the higher profile of technology-based universities.

Ann Mroz, the editor of Times Higher Education, said: “UK universities are very clearly among the world’s best and have maintained good positions in the rankings this year.

“But the fact that Cambridge and Oxford have slipped down the top ten and that US universities have cemented their dominance among the world’s elite, at the UK’s expense, raises key questions about the future funding of the sector.

“As a percentage of gross domestic product, the US spends more than twice as much on its universities as the UK does.”

The rankings – which are now in their fifth year – are based on surveys of academics and graduate employers about which they consider the best universities in their fields, the ratio of students to academics, the proportion of overseas students and staff at each university, and the number of times research by each university’s academics is quoted in other journals.

UK institutions in the world’s top 200

3- (2) University of Cambridge
4- (2) University of Oxford
6- (5) Imperial College London
7- (9) University College London
22- (24) King’s College London
23- (23) University of Edinburgh
29- (30) University of Manchester
32- (37) University of Bristol
66- (59) London School of Economics and Political Science
69- (57) University of Warwick
73- (83) University of Glasgow
75- (65) University of Birmingham
76- (68) University of Sheffield
81- (74) University of York
83- (76) University of St Andrews
86- (70) University of Nottingham
99- (80) University of Southampton
104- (80) University of Leeds
122- (109) Durham University
130- (121) University of Sussex
133- (99) Cardiff University
133- (101) University of Liverpool
152- (145) University of Bath
153- (137) University of Aberdeen
160- (149) Queen Mary, University of London
162- (129) Newcastle University
170- (147) University of Lancaster
177- (185) University of Leicester
194- (180) University of Reading

University Tuition Fees should rise to £6,500-a-Year

AZ — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 09:10:25 +0000

According to a report published by Universities UK, University Tuition fees need to rise significantly to maintain decent teaching standards at institutions across England.

The conclusions are made by Universities UK, which represents vice-chancellors, ahead of an official Government review of tuition fees later this year.

“This Universities UK [UUK] report assumes that higher fees are inevitable, and that the shambolic current system of student support will remain in place.”

It comes despite warnings from accountants that a similar rise would lead to average student debts of £32,000. Critics warned that any major increase would prove hugely unpopular with students and would hit those from middle-class families hardest because many are ineligible for grants.

Wes Streeting, president of the National Union of Students, said: “In the context of the current recession, it is extremely arrogant for university vice chancellors to be fantasising about charging their students even higher fees and plunging them into over £32,000 of debt.

At the moment, students are charged up to £3,145-a-year in fees. Those from households earning less than £25,000 are eligible for a full grant of £2,835 and at least two thirds of undergraduates get at least some subsidy. Students can also take out low-interest Government loans.

University leaders quizzed as part of the report “suggested a very wide range in the level of fee that would be required” but the “median figure was around £6,500″, said the report.

It claimed undergraduates would not react if fees were raised to £5,000, but admitted they would begin to turn their backs on university if costs increased to £7,000.

“There was a general recognition of the political difficulties for the Government in going to Parliament to seek a substantial increase in the fee cap,” said the report. “Yet, without an increase, much undergraduate teaching would be increasingly unsustainable after 2010.”

The report said if fees increased to £5,000-a-year – and the existing student loan system remained – students would be hit by average debts of £26,412 by 2016. If fees increased to £7,000 the average debt would hit £32,462.

Wendy Piatt, director general of the Russell Group, which represents 20 leading universities, said: “There is a growing consensus that without increased investment, there is a real danger that the success of our world-leading universities will not be sustained. In a difficult economic climate there is even greater urgency to find additional funding.”

But Stephen Williams, the Lib Dem skills spokesman, said: “Young people will be shocked that many of the vice-chancellors involved with this research would like to see tuition fees more than doubled. The conclusions would be very different if students’ views were considered instead of just those of university chiefs.”

[Source: Telegraph.co.uk]

UK’s 4 Universities Ranked Among Top 10 in World

AZ — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 09:29:04 +0000

According to The Times Higher Education Supplement, 2008

The Times Higher Education is the UK’s most authoritative source of information about higher education. Designed specifically for professional people working in higher education and research, THE was founded in 1971 and has been online since 1995.

According to The Guardian.co.uk, 2009. Top 10 Universities in UK are…

According to the Times Online, 2009. Top 10 Universities in UK are…

Timesonline.co.uk also provide the facility to check universities ranking in UK according to Subjects.. Please click here to check UK Universities Ranking According to Your Subject…

Obama wins could hit the ability of UK universities to recruit overseas students

AZ — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 06:21:30 +0000

Barack Obama’s historic election could hit the ability of British universities to recruit lucrative overseas students. Universities in the UK have benefited from the negative perception of America around the world since the September 11 terrorist attacks and the tightening of visa requirements that followed. But it is thought “4/11″ could be just as significant as “9/11″ in terms of its impact on international student recruitment, with many now choosing to attend American universities.

Tougher US visa restrictions that came in after the September 11 attacks have recently been lifted. American universities are actively trying to recruit overseas students once more, just as the British government tightens visa arrangements.

It is estimated that international students bring £3.5bn to UK universities each year and up to £10bn to the British economy as a whole.

Dominic Scott, chief executive of the UK Council for International Student Affairs, said there will inevitably be a shift in perception as a result of Obama’s victory that will work to the advantage of the US. “The Obama success puts us into a whole new chapter and 4/11 could well be as powerful and influential as 9/11.” He said the US would “without doubt” become more attractive as a destination, and UK institutions would have to raise their standard of service to hold on to current market share and avoid being “swept aside by the sleeping giant”.

“The government will also have to ensure that the new points-based system – together with biometrics and identity cards – is introduced as efficiently as possible and that visa charges continue to be held at current rates,” Scott said. On the other hand, Scott conceded, the political changes could also lead to an influx of more “open-minded” US students with a global perspective deciding to come to the UK to study.

Will Archer, director of i-Graduate which conducts surveys of international student recruitment, said the date of Obama’s election was significant as it would mark the start of a change in sentiment towards the US. But international students are an expanding market, so universities will not necessarily see an immediate impact

Pat Killingley, director of higher education at the British Council, said it was too early to predict the impact of the US election. “Obama’s policy on immigration and education is likely to be much more important than any feelgood factor coming from the election,” she said.

“These students are attracted here by the quality of the educational experience on offer, as well as the opportunity to take part in world class research.

“We continue to work with universities and colleges to improve the visibility of our higher education sector on the global stage, which is important for protecting and enhancing the supply of international students to the UK.”

International Students Fees increasing faster than Inflation

AZ — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 06:35:08 +0000

Universities and colleges in the UK are putting up fees for international students faster than inflation, charging up to £650 more this year, according to new figures compiled for EducationGuardian.co.uk.

Universities charge international postgraduates in arts subjects £9,858 on average in 2008 – an inflation-busting rise of a rise of 5.2% on last year’s £9,373. In science subjects, the fee rise is 6.2% or £11,245 in 2008, compared with £10,591 in 2007.

International undergraduates starting arts degrees in 2008 face fees of £9,502, up from £9,071 in 2007, a rise of 4.8% – while the fee rise for those studying science degrees is 3% to an average of £10,384 per year, up from £10,080 last year.

The increases come on top of fees that are already inflated for international students. The director of the Higher Education Policy Institute, Bahram Bekhradnia, published a report last year warning that universities could price themselves out of the market, with 25% of overseas students complaining they get poor value for money.

An updated report out later this week will warn that if the price of courses becomes more of an issue for international students in an increasingly competitive global market, the UK could stand to lose out.

According to the figures, published on EducationGuardian.co.uk today, Imperial College, London charges the highest international student fees of any UK university, discounting the London Business School, which charges all students £29,500.

In 2008, the cost is on average £19,450 per year for an undergraduate degree in the sciences, but some courses, such as medicine, charge up to £30,000 and international postgraduate students will pay on average £24,250 per year for their courses.

Heythrop College charges the lowest undergraduate fees, at £5,490 per year for both arts and science courses. Meanwhile, Trinity College, Carmarthen charges the lowest fees of £6,500 per year for both arts and science postgraduate courses.

UK Graduates should study abroad to get High Paid Jobs

AZ — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 07:32:52 +0000

UK graduates are missing out on high-flying international jobs because fewer of them are choosing to study abroad as part of their degree.

New research presented today by the Council for Industry and Higher Education (CIHE) found that international businesses are increasingly seeking graduates who have a global awareness, particularly those who have the initiative to study overseas as part of their learning.

Graduates who have studied abroad tend to be more culturally aware, able to work in multicultural teams and move around the world as part of their career. But UK graduates are less competitive in the international job market as they are now less likely to study overseas than they used to.

The report – Global Horizons and the Role of Employers – calls for better support from universities and funding bodies to help UK students gain experience of studying abroad.

A survey of international graduates as part of the report, showed they think they are more likely to have higher paid jobs at more senior positions and spend less time seeking those jobs either than UK graduates or those in their home country who did not travel to the UK.

Richard Brown, chief executive of the CIHE, said: “The UK can be the preferred worldwide location for mobile students and global recruiters. “Businesses consider that the UK develops some of the best graduates in the world. But our home-grown ones need to get that wider global perspective.”

“Universities could help by developing more partnerships with overseas universities that involve more student and staff exchanges,” he added.

Launching the report, Keith Dugdale, director of global recruitment at KPMG, said: “KPMG like many other UK firms recruits globally. We want the best wherever they may be.

“The UK develops some great talent. It attracts some of the best from around the world. We will recruit that talent but to remain competitive we want to see more UK graduates developing a global perspective through international experience.

“They will have to work with global clients and mix with a range of people from different cultures. They have to be at home with cultural differences.”

Students owe an average of £20,000 once they complete their graduation

AZ — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 09:24:03 +0000

Undergraduate students will be spared a rise in tuition fees for at least five years, in a move that will relieve middle-class families.

Ministers are under pressure from universities to raise the inflation-linked cap on university tuition fees, currently at £3,145, when the system is reviewed next year. Vice-chancellors claim that they need the extra income to compete with leading universities around the world.

David Eastwood, chief executive of the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), urged universities to dampen their expectations. Speaking at the council’s annual general meeting in London, he said: “Institutions would be foolish to plan on the assumption that there will be an early rise in the fee cap. I think it’s inconceivable that the cap will rise significantly before 2013.”

The National Union of Students estimates that those graduating under the new fee regime will owe an average of £20,000 once they complete their studies.

However, a survey for NatWest bank has calculated that the actual cost of completing a degree is much higher, at about £33,500. This includes fees, rent, food and luxuries such as alcohol and cigarettes.

Students from families whose parents earn just over the upper limit of £60,000 for receiving financial aid may find themselves hit hardest by any increase in fees, because they do not qualify for the assistance that is available to those from low-income households.

Eric Thomas, Vice-Chancellor of Bristol University, said that it would be unrealistic for universities to expect an increase in fee or other income in the current economic climate. “We must expect our income to flatten. In the past 12 years, income has risen by 10 per cent a year annually. Now we will have a situation where it will flatten, but we will still have the same cost base,” he said.

On other hand Jane from Cambridge commented as “I think its a disgrace the fees exist in the first place; particularly given that the people who brought this in, had a free university education!”

Striking decrease in number of UK students taking Gap Year

AZ — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 10:46:13 +0000

There are signs that the gap year has fallen out of favor as new students realize that with rising rents and an uncertain financial future, they and their parents can no longer afford a year abroad.

Both Cambridge and Oxford have reported a striking increase in university admissions this year – up 12% year on year, a phenomenon they believe is linked to students cutting their gap year to a summer of liberty before starting their degree.

Travel firms that specialize in year-off and round-the-world trips acknowledged a slowdown in the student market. Instead, the growth flows from an older demographic: workers who have been made redundant are taking the opportunity to forget their woes with an extended trip, while school-leavers are opting for shorter breaks that fit into the summer holidays. A once lucrative market – worth £2.5bn in 2005 – appears to be shrinking.

Andy Woods-Ballard, director of operations for the gap year firm Global Vision International, said: “With the current economic climate people are more worried about taking time [out] and the costs associated with traveling.”

The industry confirms gap years are getting shorter. A spokeswoman for Real Gap Experience said: “It’s more popular to take eight to 12 weeks off the summer before starting university rather than taking a full year out.”

In response to this demand, more than 80% of the firm’s programmes run for between two and 12 weeks. GVI said its main growth area was in shorter placements of two to four weeks between finishing school and starting university. Parents have made it clear they could not afford to support their children on both a gap year and through university, the firm said.

Launder, from Wandsworth, south London, who went on a placement to Zimbabwe on her gap year, said: “I only went away for two months because it was so expensive. The placement and my travel costs were over £4,500. The rest of the time I worked like a madwoman in two shops – a toy shop and a food shop – six days a week.

“I’m working part-time in a toy shop in Oxford now and the paid work I did on my gap year helped me get that job. So much money is coming out of my account I need to work.”

UK Universities are the top spot for Bulgarians Students

AZ — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 05:50:27 +0000

UK universities are among the most desired destinations for young Bulgarians, according to consultant companies providing educational advice and services. The reason, they speculate, is the relatively low tuition fees for the Baccalaureate programmes, about 3000 pounds (3800 euro).

The US and Germany also admit a fair amount of Bulgarian students, but British schools allot various scholarships and social stipends, for which most Bulgarians qualify. The requirements for such stipends are the yearly annual income not to exceed 17 000 pounds.

Denmark and the Netherlands also rank high among students’ desirable countries for getting higher education, however, there is no official statistics indicating the number of young people who have left to study abroad.

Just recently, representatives of University of London visited Sofia’s Prof. Vassil Zlatarski private high school with the idea to present the school, which consists of 19 self-governing colleges. Recruiting specialists from the London School of Economics, King’s College and Imperial College introduced to the Bulgarian students available Baccalaureate programmes, stressing the fact that to become a student at any of the UL’s colleges, motivation is essential.

All three colleges admit new students through UCAS, an organisation which processes applications for entry to higher education courses in the UK. Bulgarian candidates need to pass TOEFL or IELTS for a proof of English language proficiency. The motivation letter every candidate is required to send is vital to the admittance process as specialists advise students not apply to more than two programmes at the same college, for this normally is interpreted as lack of strong interest in one field of study.

heystudents.com » universities

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