Cambridge 'to charge maximum fees'

Cambridge University is proposing to charge students the maximum 9,000 pounds in tuition fees from next year
12 April 2012

Cambridge University has announced proposals to charge students the maximum £9,000 in tuition fees from next year, prompting warnings that more institutions will rush to follow suit.

A report by Cambridge's working group on fees argues that it would be "fiscally irresponsible" for the elite institution to charge less than the maximum, adding it expects "most if not all of our peers" to do the same.

The announcement came as a number of Oxford University academics suggested their institution will also need to raise fees to at least £8,000.

Aaron Porter, president of the National Union of Students, said: "We can now expect a race to the top as universities rush to gain kudos by joining the '£9,000 group' as quickly as possible. How long before the most expensive universities start asking for the freedom to charge even more?"

MPs voted in December to raise tuition fees to £6,000 per year from 2012, with universities allowed to charge £9,000 in exceptional circumstances. But according to the Cambridge report, the working group is recommending a single rate of £9,000 for all home and EU students, regardless of the course or college they study at.

Students from homes with a household income of less than £25,000 will get a reduction of £3,000, plus a bursary of £1,625. This reduction will taper down to zero for students from homes with an income of over £42,000.

The report argues that even with tuition fees set at £9,000, the university is still "carrying the burden of a significant loss per student" and adds: " To charge less than the maximum would be fiscally irresponsible."

At a meeting of Oxford University's Congregation to discuss student funding, Professor Tony Monaco, pro-vice-chancellor (planning and resources) warned: "Because of cuts in Government funding, both for teaching and capital infrastructure, we would have to charge fees of around £8,000 just to maintain the status quo. Anything else would mean we lose money or we have to find, with immediate effect, funds from elsewhere."

Current estimates suggest that fees of £7,600 are needed to replace funding lost through cuts, plus extra to cover capital funding cuts, bringing the total fee level to around £8,000 per student, Prof Monaco said.

Prof Monaco put forward a similar "fee waiver" system for poorer students to that proposed by Cambridge. For example, if fees were set at £9,000, the poorest students could get a £3,000 reduction, taking their fees to £6,000.

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