University sets most of course fees at less than £7,500
MOST students starting courses at the University of Derby in 2012 will find themselves paying annual tuition fees of between £7,000 and £8,000.
-
University of Derby
The university is the latest to declare what its tuition fees will be following the Government's increase in the cap allowing universities to charge between £6,000 and £9,000, instead of £3,290 at present.
The university has estimated that 40 per cent of its annual intake of 3,300 students will pay £7,495 because they will be studying on "resource-intensive" courses.
These will include science, art and design and computer programme courses, where there is a greater need for equipment to be used.
At the same time, a further 40 per cent of students are expected to pay a lower cost of £6,995 for courses, such as business or humanities, delivered in a conventional class or lecture setting.
The other 20 per cent of students are expected to pay the higher rate of £7,995 for courses such as primary education, health or outdoor activities management, where visits and trips are needed.
Up to now, just under over five per cent of universities across the country have declared their proposed fees for 2012, with most opting for the maximum £9,000.
The rest have to state their intentions by April 19.
Only a handful have opted for lower fees and three have proposed a sliding scale – Derby, Coventry and London Metropolitan.
Under the Government's guidelines to attract more people from deprived backgrounds, the university will also be offering 300 scholarships, each one of which will be worth £3,000 for the first year of study.
Vice-chancellor Professor John Coyne said he wanted to be "transparent" and "fair" to students and as a result was introducing the sliding scale of course prices. He said: "Our fees will reflect the true cost of courses and we will ensure students know exactly what they are paying for and deliver it.
"Our decision is based on pricing and not posturing, fairness and not flim-flam."
"We are hoping that our sliding scale will entice people to come and have a look at what we do.
"But we do reserve the right to charge more, up to £9,000, if this becomes necessary at any stage for premium courses, which we don't have at the moment."
The Government has estimated that there could be up to 17 per cent fewer people applying to university next year. The University of Derby has worked out that if 20 per cent fewer people applied then it would lose £4.2m, which it could manage on its current reserves of £10.1m.
Professor Coyne said: "We could take that hit but would have to readjust our fees and look at the courses if that trend continued."
The Government's decision to reduce its funding for universities and to allow tuition fees to fund courses directly sparked outrage and led to marches in protest.
The University of Derby students' union, which sent some members to the London protests, has been working alongside senior university staff to set the new fees structure.
Union president Caleb Jackson said: "We supported the proposals at the governing council but we shall hold the university to account on the delivery of the student experience."
The new fee structure only affects full and part-time students starting courses in September 2012.
No full-time student will have to pay for the cost of tuition while they are studying and can take out a Government loan, which graduates do not start paying until they are earning at least £21,000.
26 Comments
View all
by Debbie, Derby
Tuesday, April 05 2011, 9:23PM
“Peter, Normanton - I am currently a student at Derby so feel i am well placed to comment. I am doing an English degree and am lucky that the price increase will not affect me. Student@Derby? no one is saying they expect a small increase of £500 for example but an English degree rising from £3,290 to £7,500 per year?? Not the smallest jump !!! I do agree with the rest of your comments though, i am too a mature student who works full time in a good job as well as studying full time. I work very hard and really do not like it when these other critics moan and complain because it does not affect them....
If nobody went to university or studied for a degree...who would nurse you when you were sick? who would scrap forensic samples from you if you were attacked?? Feel free to complain or disagree if you are affected by this story but putting people down for wanting to better themselves and learn is pathetic.”
by Old Guy, Free for all
Tuesday, April 05 2011, 9:00PM
“I can not blame the university in the current climate but am I alone and perhaps old fashioned in my view that education should be free? Maybe a 2% Business profit tax would help support courses after all these students are our future!”
by **, Derby
Tuesday, April 05 2011, 7:05PM
“Charging this much money a year is abysmal, but not as outrageous as paying the £9,000 a year - so it could be a lot worse. The government seems to be making it so that people who are not middle class cannot afford to go to university and are therefore stuck in jobs with no prospects.
The so-called scholarship doesn't make sense as you will still be paying a hefty sum back through your student loan, which is a lot more than students who have graduated previously. Not many people will be able to afford this, even with the "help".
I have just graduated from Derby and found my course and most of the lecturers brilliant. The library however is pretty basic, even with the re-vamp. There are not enough computers and those that are there seem to be used for facebook or people have left their bags on the chair and not logged off so nobody else can use that pc. I would've thought that people at university were more intelligent than this and would not be so selfish. And as for the periodicals - a degree would be useful to figure out how to use them!
I would also like to point out to any MP's reading this [Haha, not likely!] that there really isn't much incentive to go to university. It costs way more than it realistically should and there are no guarantees that you will get a job afterwards; either in your chosen career or any other position to earn money. Logically, an apprenticeship or training seems the better option. At the moment my degree is just the most expensive piece of card i have ever owned. For all the good it's doing i may as well have bought one off of the internet.”
by Student @ Derby, Derby
Tuesday, April 05 2011, 6:10PM
“Also, to be fair, they havent charged as much as others....
What did people realistically expect them to charge ? £500 ?
All fees are going up. If you dont have a great opinion of Derby no one is forcing you to go there....”
by Student @ Derby, Derby
Tuesday, April 05 2011, 6:01PM
“I am a mature student at Derby, I am doing a business related course, not a 'poncy' art degree as you put it.
My lecturers are great and my degree will hopefully enable me to attract a salary and position to reflect this. I worked in the field I am studying before doing a degree. I chose to go to Derby because it is local to me as I have family life to balance as well.
Bettys comments are just plain stupid maybe if she actually took a trip to Derby Uni and met some of the students there (who by the way often have 2 jobs to support themselves) she may produce an opinion worth reading.
I am not a spoon fed spoilt brat looking at such things on my phone. I am married mum of two in my thirties trying to improve my employment prospects and be an example to my children.”
by Peter, ex Normanton
Tuesday, April 05 2011, 5:41PM
“How many of you knowledgably critics ever went to Derby University, or any other Uni for that matter. I did and no, not because I couldn¿t get in anywhere else, but because I live in Derby. I took a science degree and found the majority of lecturers to be approachable and interested in not only what I was doing but who I was. I attended as a mature student with life experience to back me up and paid £1000.00 per year out of my own pocket. I think what I got out of it was well worth it and a bargain, and while I sympathise with current students faced with such a huge increase in the fees I would say do it, but only if you really WANT to. (Capitals for the benefit of ¿Supermorph¿ if you are still here?)”
by Nigel, Derby
Tuesday, April 05 2011, 4:22PM
“Betty, Harry - what a crass generalisation you've made. I have friends who studied for Art / Design degrees who are now carving out successful careers designing websites, catalogue pages, etc. They are talented people who work hard to contribute to the economy. It's small-minded people like you who drag this country down. And before you ask, no, I did a law degree.”
by ES, Derby
Tuesday, April 05 2011, 3:43PM
“Derby's fees appear quite reasonable/normal when you look at the bigger picture (i.e. what others are charging):
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-12880840
ALL university fees are ridiculously high, compared to what they were previously.
I went to Derby and Manchester Uni and can say that the lecturing/teaching I received was far better at Derby than at Manchester - lecturers were definitely a lot more personal and approachable, but I guess everyones experience is different, depending more upon the individual lecturers rather than the uni as a whole...”
by Neil Wright, Derby
Tuesday, April 05 2011, 2:57PM
“Outrageous fees for a bog standard university. I think the proposal by the government is a good one though. In a few years time it will be sink or swim for the poorer quality unis like Derby. If they don't up their game, people will choose not to study there and their future will be in doubt.
Surely this is a good thing? It encourages universities to provide the very best, which is what they ought to be doing anyway.”
by LadyofShallot, Derby
Tuesday, April 05 2011, 2:28PM
“Nobody has a RIGHT to higher education and if we were all being honest the only people who go to Derby University are those who can't get in elsewhere. Sorry if that offends some but the truth always hurts - GO GET A JOB and read a few books in your spare time. Self education is the key - backed up by life experience.”