The reallocation of student numbers at Wales’ universities from 2013-14 forces a market in tuition fees that risks dividing higher education institutions in the nation.
From the figures released by Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) today, a clear decision seems to have been made by five institutions to join Glyndwr University in charging £7,500 or less.
Whilst NUS Wales does not yet know what those fees will be, the reallocation appears to create a three-tier market.
- At the top, Aberyswyth, Bangor, Cardiff and Swansea universities plan to charge a premium fee on reputation.
- In the middle, Glamorgan, Cardiff Metropolitan, Glyndwr, Newport, Swansea Metropolitan, and Trinity Saint David universities plan to take the middle ground of £7,500 or less.
- At at the bottom, a handful of colleges will offer lower-priced higher education courses.
Luke Young, NUS Wales President said:
“This stick and carrot exercise for student places will effectively create a fees market for students coming into Wales.
“This exercise also presents a false divide between our universities based on a price tag. Some students will pay lower fees than their peers studying at other universities. But these fees are dependent on reputation rather than what they deliver for students.
“This policy is the latest knock-on effect of Westminister’s £9,000 fee regime. The Welsh Government committed itself to fighting off a market in Wales. Yet, here we have the appearance of a forced market in all but name.”
Read the full report from HEFCW, Strategic Reallocation of Student Numbers 2013/14 – Outcomes.