University college first in UK to announce tuition fees of less than £9,000
FUTURE teachers could be drawn to Lincoln after Bishop Grosseteste became the first university to announce fees of less than £9,000 per year.
The university college said it would charge £7,500 for BA-level courses, subject to approval by the Fair Access office.
Fees for foundation courses will be less, somewhere in the region of £5,625.
Principal Muriel Robinson said: "We have decided to play this straight with students. We are not trying to send messages about our quality or how we see ourselves relative to other providers.
"Our excellent track record in relation to quality, student satisfaction and employability means we don't need to play games.
"We did not set the fees to make ourselves seem more competitive, we feel it accurately reflects how much providing a course that has everything a student needs costs.
"People considering coming here to study should remember they won't have to pay the tuition fees while they study – they will receive a Government loan."
So far, the universities of Oxford, Imperial College, Durham, Exeter, Essex, Surrey, Manchester, Warwick and Aston have said they want to charge the maximum tuition fees.
The London Metropolitan later joined Bishop Grosseteste in charging less than the maximum. It intends to set fees at no more than £7,000.
The University of Lincoln is expected to announce its planned charges in the summer.
Universities wishing to charge more than £6,000 must commit to measures to help recruit students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Director of Fair Access Sir Martin Harris said: "We will have the highest expectations of institutions who have the furthest to go in achieving a representative student body and who want to charge fees towards the top end."
8 Comments
by Anon, Lincoln
Sunday, March 27 2011, 9:46AM
“Actually Emma, I attained a 1st class degree, with no support from the University. I and many others felt extremely let down by BG and certainly would not advise anyone to go there. Obviously, this is my personal opinion, and I'm sure many students have left happy. I, however, did not!”
by Emma Wasp, Lincoln
Sunday, March 27 2011, 9:01AM
“In other words, Anon, you weren't a very capable student and are trying to blame the college for your own failings.”
by Zachary, Lincoln
Saturday, March 26 2011, 9:55PM
“@Emma
They will be left dissapointed because... it's Bishop Grosseteste... not exacty a top institution, is it? Looking at their prospectus again now, they don't actually offer ANY meanwhile courses other than ONE bachelors which leads to a qualified teacher status to teach Primary school children.
Would you honestly pay £7,500 per year for a "Heritage Studies" BA? Can you tell me what jobs would be available to a person who got that degree after spending so much money on it?
Would you want to pay £15,000+ for a -foundation- course which won't actually get you anywhere in a career unless you were to chuck much more money at it? Privately, I got my NVQ 3 and 4 equivalents for about £400 / course a few years ago - an NVQ 4 being an equivalent or very similar to that £15,000 foundation degree.
@Mrs Quirell
Do you honestly think charging more will mean ANYTHING to the students themselves? Other than lining the already fat pockets of lecturers, chair members and university leaders?
Were you ever a 'poor' student or in any similar predicament, having to spend so much to make something more of your life and future? Did you ever have to incurr debts of £75,000 to support yourself for 3 years on loans and ontop of that education?
This is hardly relevant to a bank loan to buy a car or a get a mortgage for a house - this is the future of our society, in which many bright and potentially talented people will be put off from studying because they can earn much more in a manual labour job and can further that career than study for 3-8 years to get a job that pays wages barely above £21,000 per annum to start at the very bottom on the totem pole.
Have you really thought about long-term implications of this on a larger standpoint rather than just being enraged at those who wish to study and better themselves and their country they live in for no reason?
Or do you think Nurses, Social Workers and Midwives deserve such a terrible pay packet and should pay 3x more for their education for making a career out of looking after your family and your friends?
A cap of £5,000 / year seems much less damaging...announcing triple costs straight away is and will always be a terrible move, and I really wouldn't be surprised if it was scrapped or heavy revisions made to it.
If you have anger towards students then you want to be pointing towards Scotland and Wales who have their University education free courtesty of taxpayers such as you and I in England.”
by Anon, Lincoln
Saturday, March 26 2011, 9:52PM
“Because, Emma, I have first hand experience of BG, and I can guarantee the reputation it has built for itself is incorrect. Students leave unfulfilled and wishing they had studied elsewhere where subject knowledge is priority!”
by Freedom of Speech, Lincoln
Saturday, March 26 2011, 11:12AM
“Big up Mrs Quirell on this occasion. First name Grace I'm guessing?”
by Emma Wasp, Lincoln
Saturday, March 26 2011, 10:03AM
“"I personally think its a disgrace that they think they can justify charging students £7,500 for a BA/BSc degree."
Presumably you think you could do it for less, do you?
"Unless there are big changes there, students will be left very disappointed."
Because..?”
by Mrs Quirell, Lincoln
Saturday, March 26 2011, 9:07AM
“Quite simply, Tough! Why shouldn't students pay for their own education? They don't have to pay it all up front and they pay back the loans when they are earning at a very small percentage. Just try getting a bank loan for less. The student loan system means Further Education is available to all, but also they have to put back what they take. I'm a little fed up with all the guff that it will stop poor students being able to study, its rubbish. I hope this means better quality study producing better quality graduates.”
by Anon, Lincoln
Saturday, March 26 2011, 8:33AM
“I personally think its a disgrace that they think they can justify charging students £7,500 for a BA/BSc degree. Unless there are big changes there, students will be left very disappointed.”