The forthcoming NUS / HSBC Student Experience Report, includes a NUS league table of ‘most expensive degrees’.
Top of the league table are courses in mathematical sciences and computer science where, in addition to tuition fees and living expenses, students taking one of these degrees will need to find an extra £1,430 yearly for the cost of books, equipment and fieldwork.
Students taking medicine and dentistry fare slightly better with the additional cost being £902.16. Students on education degrees pay the least, £432.48.
The 1187 students who took part in the online survey come under the Higher Education Statistics Agency’s definition of a full time student, which is someone studying for at least twenty-four weeks per year.
NUS/HSBC Student Experience Report league table figures are based on this definition.
In commenting NUS president Wes Streeting said: “It is completely unacceptable that applicants are left in the dark about the true cost of degrees. Many students preparing to go to university this summer may be in for a real shock.
“Universities need to be much more open about the hidden costs associated with different courses. There should be better information, advice and guidance about student finance on university websites and in their prospectuses.”
The report also suggests that students’ financial situations deteriorate during their time at university with twenty nine per cent of first year students relying on paid employment, loans or credit as a source of funding, compared to fifty per cent of final year students.
Wes Streeting added: “Universities should also provide students with better financial advice and support whilst they are at university, so they do not have to get into commercial debt or jeopardise their studies by taking on more part time work just to get by.”
Related links
For league table of the most expensive courses