The University of York plans to set its tuition fees at the maximum figure of £9,000 a year following a meeting of the University Council on Friday.
The University was criticised earlier in the year for delaying the announcement of the tuition-fee amount, but they have now followed the likes of Oxford, Cambridge and UCL in charging the £9,000 limit.
The expenditure of this money will inevitably be closely scrutinised. The University says that the money will be invested into areas such as student financial support, teaching quality and improving the “student experience”.
Despite this, students lobbied the University for a lower price-tag.
An official statement by organisation York Students Against the Cuts was presented to the major players in the decision early last week. It reads: “We do not believe the one-dimensional linkage of perceived degree quality and price.
“The University already has the historical endowment of a good reputation, secured by the work of staff and achievements of students,” which the group believes will not be eradicated by a lower tuition fee figure.
Conversely, York Students Against the Cuts feel that a sum below the national cap of £9,000 would show the university to be a “socially concerned institution.”
There has been a well-documented national fear that people from lower income families will be deterred by the soaring cost of a university education, following the beginning of debate on the raising of fees in Parliament in September last year. An official statement from the University, however, outlines some of its financial plans: “In addition to National Scholarships, the University will offer a range of scholarships, waivers and bursaries.
“First-year students with scholarships will receive £4,500 in support, while other first-year students from families with an income of less than £25,000 will receive support worth £3,000. Hardship funds for students will also be increased.”
Nonetheless, there are still concerns over the amount of debt students will end up in after university. As Vision revealed in the last issue, a York student owes a massive £54,000 to the Student Loans Company, making them the 12th highest debtor in the country. This figure will be much less unusual for the next generation of students.
Vice-Chancellor Brian Cantor is confident that the new deal will benefit York. He comments: “The measures approved today will maintain the University of York as an institution of the highest quality. The University of York is committed to four key objectives: excellence, internationalisation, sustainability and inclusivity… We shall continue to invest in providing the best possible experience for our students. We will ensure that York continues to attract and support students from a diverse range of backgrounds and that anyone who has the ability to benefit from a York education can do so regardless of their financial circumstances.”
The package proposed by the University of York has now been submitted to the Office For Fair Access (Offa) and is pending approval. The £9,000 sum will apply to full-time home and EU undergraduate students and will come into effect from October 2012. Confirmation by Offa is expected on 12th July when it will announce its final decision.
YUSU have listed their stance towards the planned tuition fee rise on their website, stating, “We fully oppose the increase in the cap in tuition fees, and will continue to work with the long-term NUS campaign to abolish fees in favour of a graduate tax.
“We do not endorse the University’s decision to charge £9,000, but support the commitment to ensuring that York widens its intake of students from more disadvantaged backgrounds, works to increase our retention of students in general and spends any further income on primarily the academic, as well as the wider, student experience.
“We will focus our campaigning efforts in this area; ensuring that all additional fee income goes to back to students, and that students direct those investments.”