Striking a fair balance on fees
Thursday 7 April 2011
Southampton Solent University has set its tuition fees at £7800 per year for full-time UK and EU undergraduate students starting their studies in 2012/13. (This is subject to the approval of its Access Agreement by the Office for Fair Access).
The Vice-Chancellor of Solent University, Professor Van Gore said:
“In setting the fees at this level we have sought to strike a fair balance between our commitment to social justice and the need to invest in improving the student experience. We do not want talented people to be put off going to university and we are determined to offer them an excellent and distinctive learning experience. Potential students and their families will want to know simply and clearly what they will get for the new fees they will pay.
“At Solent this will mean a stimulating university education that combines theory and practice and carries good job prospects. We shall be enhancing student support and working more closely with employers, placing an even greater emphasis on ‘employability’.
“The Solent employability offer to students from 2012 will have three distinctive elements:
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From 2012 all students will benefit from ‘real world’ learning opportunities, including work experience, as an integral part of their course.
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In helping students to get that vital first job the University will expand its current graduate internship scheme from 25 to 100 places a year, each one paid at a fair rate and with the option for further study.
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In addition there will be a major investment in helping student entrepreneurs to start up their own businesses. They will get expert education and training, mentoring and financial support. This support will continue after they graduate.
“In other words, Solent University will offer distinctiveness, excellence and real value for students.”
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Under new government legislation, universities in England can charge up to £9000 a year for their undergraduate degrees. This is subject to the approval of Access Agreement submissions by the Office for Fair Access (OFFA). Proposals on tuition fees must be submitted to OFFA by April 19, 2011. OFFA is planning to announce the approved fee levels for all English universities on July 11, 2011.
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Under the new fees system, no full-time UK and EU student will be expected to pay tuition fees at the beginning or during their study period.
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Tuition fee loans are available to all full-time UK and EU students and are then repaid as a fixed proportion of earnings after they leave university.
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Repayments start only when earnings are over £21,000 per year (rather than over £15,000 as is the case now). If they are not earning, or the salary is lower than £21,000, they would not pay anything at all.
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The sector average graduate salary after six months (for those in full time employment six months after leaving university) is £19,500
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As for level of repayment once eligible, based on a starting salary of £22,000, repayments would initially be only £7.50 per month.
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Finally, repayment is made over many years up to a maximum of thirty, after which any outstanding debt is cancelled