Merseyside universities tuition fee hike

05/04/2011

Universities in Liverpool will be charging the highest tuiton fees possible as of 2012.

University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University are set to charge the maximum £9,000 tuition fees when the cap on fees is lifted next year.

This has lead student bosses fear less state school pupils will be willing to undertake courses in the city, after it was claimed rocketing tuition fees could stifle the rising number of state school pupils enrolling at the region’s universities.

Josh Wright, president of the University of Liverpool’s students union, said universities would struggle to sustain the rises amid soaring tuition fees.

He told the Liverpool Daily Post: “When the fees go up I expect there will be a dip due to the fear of debt. Support students get will vary and students will look at the level of debt rather than the academic benefits of university.”

The union plans to lobby for students to receive a full breakdown of how their tuition fees are spent.

University of Liverpool Vice Chancellor Sir Howard Newby has told staff that some students will be able to collect up to £9,000 in bursaries and “fee waivers” during their stay at the university.

He told the Post: “We remain committed to ensuring all students have access to a world-class education at Liverpool regardless of background or ability to pay.”

The news comes as the university revealed around a third of all students enrolling next year will qualify for a minimum £2,000 per year bursary to cushion the blow of maximum fees.

Hope University is still finalising its packages but secretary Graham Donelan said measures to help low income students would continue and there was “no evidence” to suggest state school pupils would be put off by higher fees.

He said the university has record number of state pupils enrolling despite tougher entry requirements, with students on average needing three Bs at A-level to secure a place.

Tags; Budgeting Advice, Young Family Finances, Recent Graduate Debt,

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