is there any legal protection against massive college fee rises when when 2nd year fees are not confirmed before the course starts??

[Hatwoman]

I am about to take a 2-year course of study - however I've just discovered that the 2nd year fees are yet to be confirmed (and will not be until after I've started). In theory, according to the terms and conditions, I could duck out of the second year - but this would render the first year a complete waste of time and money. The college has told me annual fee rises are usually around 4 per cent - but it seems to me that there is nothing (apart from reputational risk) to stop them hiking them enormously - they've got me (and all the other students) over a barrel. But I can't help wonder if there is anything - legally speaking - that would stop them them from being unreasonable?

Ask them. If they say they won't increase them so much beyond RPI, then you can hold them to that.

I have asked - but no you can't hold them to it. the terms and conditions explicitly say so

Find somewhere else to do the course? Speak to the NUS. they may be able to offer some advice.

I think it's quite common for universities to not agree fees very far in advance. I don't know about the legal position but from my experience it's incredibly unlikely they would hoik the fees up during a course. I've never known this to happen in the places I've worked.

I encountered this last September as an employer who sends students on day release. Background in September 2009 my student started a 2 year NVQ level 2 and 3 course, the awarding body was changing it's registration certificate to a completely level 3 award. So when my student returned to college in September 2010 the fees rose by a staggering 50% per year and they added an additional year to the course so actually changing the cost from just over £1000 to £1900! One self funding student challenged this very very robustly, but had to either pay or leave the course.