This afternoons announcement

[weetabix07]

Re tuition fees. How might this impact universities? One can only speculate right now - but the gossip is apparently some courses will be made to charge less in fees which I can imagine won't be good for certain departments.

Well- I guess we will hear soon enough..

[Heratnumber7]

As this is Academics' corner, I'll just point out that it should be

[weetabix07]

[mrsroboto]

A good overview and related articles here: wonkhe.cmail19.com/t/ViewEmail/d/976C75BB56EBCD1E2540EF23F30FEDED/B3C01B98E736EAC52A1BF84ACBDD178B

[TheRagingGirl]

Well, it'll only work if they charge the full amount for courses which cost more the £9k. Like Medicine etc. But I'm in Arts & Humanities, and I know my programme doesn't quite break even at £9k.

I can't believe what a fucking mess these Tories have made of the UK's education system. It was once one of the best in the world. Well, I only have about 8 years to go, and by then I may well be glad to leave a profession I've given my life to.

[weetabix07]

Thanks Mrs - will read and digest.

[stabilio]

But it was Tony Blair who introduced the fees?

[user369060]

The Labour government introduced fees at reasonable levels.

Since 2012, and the 9k fees/drops on student caps, we have seen high volatility, with many courses expanding numbers rapidly to annihilate competition and make profits to support weaker courses. None of this is good for education.

Raging - the anticipation is the net income for universities will simply be reduced, with corresponding large numbers of job losses. And the job losses will come from academics as it will be argued that the admin teams are still needed to recruit, maintain student satisfaction etc in a competitive market.

[wizzywig]

Im hoping this will come into play for masters degrees too

[user369060]

You're hoping what will come into play for masters degrees?

Cuts in fees? And correspondingly masters programmes being discontinued because they run at a loss? Academics being sacked? Less tuition being offered? The best academics moving abroad to countries that don't keep cutting their salaries and increasing their workloads?

Be careful what you wish for.

One thing I did take from yesterday's announcement is that some courses may well increase fees, if they can justify higher fees via teaching costs/income of graduates. On these grounds many of the best UK masters programmes could easily move to charging UK entrants the full international rate.

[weetabix07]

@user369060 I'm inclined to feel the way you do. From our perspective, it is worrying.

[TheRagingGirl]

And the job losses will come from academics as it will be argued that the admin teams are still needed to recruit, maintain student satisfaction etc in a competitive market

With no-one left to teach them!

This current government & its predecessor are philistine barbarians.

[TheRagingGirl]

On these grounds many of the best UK masters programmes could easily move to charging UK entrants the full international rate.

Most courses actually cost the international rate. Overseas students subsidise domestic students.