St Andrews students have locked horns with the town’s university over an increase in fees for part-time courses.
A move by the university to raise the cost of evening degree courses has prompted anger, and yesterday a petition with almost 2000 signatures was handed over in an attempt to persuade the institution to make a U-turn.
Students say the review of fees will see the cost soar by 40% £515 for those who earn over a certain threshold however, the university insists that only 10 to 15 students will pay £100 a year more.
While the review means a complete scrapping of fees for those earning under the threshold and eligible for an Independent Learning Account, the protesters claim this is being subsidised by those who have to pay.
They pointed out that as the rise is for evening courses, many affected will be students supporting families.ConcessionDescribing the abolition of fees for ILA holders as a concession, a campaign spokesperson said, “We welcome this first step towards making St Andrews a more inclusive institution, but feel that the demands of our petition in particular that the university completely reverse the decision to increase fees for all part-time students have not been met.
“We ask that the management of the university considers all of our demands and encourage them to make a real commitment to widening access to an education at St Andrews, particularly in the university’s 600th anniversary year.”
A university spokesman said, “It is hugely important to stress that the university is not increasing all part-time fees by 40%. In the past all part-time evening degree students in St Andrews have been subsidised, whether they are on low incomes or not.
“Under our new system we have endeavoured to make the fees much fairer by removing this across- the-board subsidy and instead targeting improved scholarship and other financial support for those on low incomes.
“Our new system will protect all part-time students on low incomes but remove the subsidy from those who are able to pay. This will mean that 10 to 15 students will pay about £100 more per year for their courses than current rates.
“It is also important to stress that this change will only affect new students enrolling on courses from 2011. It does not affect any currently enrolled part-time evening degree student.”