High tuition fee 'not for prestige'

A university leader has attacked suggestions that institutions are planning to set high tuition fees for reasons of 'prestige'
12 April 2012

A university leader has attacked suggestions that institutions are planning to set high tuition fees for reasons of "prestige".

The cost of running many degree programmes is already between £7,000 and £10,000, so fees of less than £7,000 would have a "direct impact" on the quality of courses, according to Libby Aston, director of University Alliance.

Universities need to be able to provide quality to students and this cannot be done through "cut price" alternatives, she said.

Her comments come just days after Universities Minister David Willetts said it would be a "great pity" if there was the idea that universities "have to charge a very high price in order to establish prestige".

Ms Aston said: "UK universities are world-leading and getting into the language of 'cut price' education does not recognise the significant impact they have on the UK's economy and society nor what we as a country want our graduates to look like.

"The amount of graduate contribution set for a course is not simply about prestige - it is about being able to deliver quality teaching and a student experience that cannot be delivered through 'cut price' alternatives.

"Suggesting that it is just about price ignores the rich and diverse experience offered at university. At Alliance universities we are delivering courses that are professionally accredited, have strong links with business and produce graduates who are work ready, innovative and enterprising."

She added: "We know that many students are already on courses that cost £7,000 to £10,000 to run. Therefore, under the new system, a graduate contribution of anything under £7,000 would have a direct impact on the quality of the course that can be delivered.

"In order to maintain excellence and a high quality student experience, these courses will need to have a graduate contribution that reflects their position in the market. If students are going to be making more of a contribution to their degrees, universities need to be able to deliver at least the same high standards that students are experiencing now."

MPs voted to raise tuition fees to £6,000 last December, with institutions able to charge £9,000 in "exceptional circumstances". But there are already signs that universities are planning to charge the maximum, or close to it, despite pleas from ministers.

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