Poorer students alienated by top up fee debt
A study published last week by the Sutton Trust, a charity involved in funding further education, suggests that the increase in top-up fees has meant fewer possibilities of entering university for people from underprivileged backgrounds.
Despite government reassurance that top-up fees would not affect poorer students or marginalise their chances of going to University, the investigation found that the finance aspect and fear of debt significantly affects the likelihood of participation in Higher Education amongst the 59% of those who decided not to partake in it.
Of those who decide to attend university, 42% of those with family income under £35,000 opted for a local university in order to live at home with their parents or guardians. The overall percentage of students who opted to study within commuting distance was 54%, up from 18% ten years ago.
The social background of the student also affected whether or not they would apply for a bursary. The study found that “only 6% of students with families with incomes over £35,000 reported that bursaries would be a factor in their choosing a University”. Students from ethnic minorities were more likely to opt for bursaries with 30% considering them to be important.
Serious questions now have to be asked about the extent to which the introduction of top-up fees have alienated those who come from underprivileged backgrounds, and particularly those whose family income is below £35,000.
University admission has increased overall by 7%, however many critics suggest that amongst the ‘poorer’ students, the admission levels may have declined, more significantly among males students.
This has led to criticisms of not only alienating less well-off students, but also actively seeking to deter them by not sufficiently advertising the full range of financial help available.
Not only are many of the bursaries not large enough to be effective, many students are not even aware of the financial aid on offer.
Gemma Tumelty, president of the National Union of Students, has commented that “If the trend continues, prestigious universities will only be accessible to the rich.”
With York having entered the top 100 universities in the world, will it now slowly become an elitist university in a similar league to traditionl universities of Durham, Oxford and Cambridge?
Craig
“will it now slowly become an elitist university in a similar league to traditionl universities of Durham, Oxford and Cambridge?”
I think at least half of the students here already act like it is, or rather they wish, it was. The number of ultra-right wing Tories around is very unpleasant this year.
A couple of my friends and I get small, but useful bursaries from the University. And we were, and sadly I’m not making this up, called “scum” by one of the many arrogant elitists going round the Uni. It’s no wonder some people are put off from applying to the top Uni’s when a (grantedly small minority) or privately educated toffs treat them like this.