SENATE AND COUNCIL

Subject: Higher Tuition Fees for UK & EC Full-time Undergraduates

Origin: Bursar & Finance Officer

1. The Government has proposed that higher education institutions be permitted to charge variable tuition fees of up to £3000 per annum for full-time undergraduate courses attended by UK and EC students, subject to a satisfactory agreement with the Office of Fair Access (OFFA) on safeguarding access to higher education for students from low income families. A parliamentary bill is expected in November. The bill is likely to be highly contentious and the general outcome uncertain for some time, let alone the details. However, if the legislation is passed, the time-scale for implementation will be very short indeed. It would be very unwise to do nothing in the meantime; potential income of perhaps £3 million or more in 2006-7 and the two subsequent years might be lost if we have not planned ahead and fail to get OFFA approval.

2. The Vice-Chancellor has asked me to convene a small working party to assess the implications of the proposals and prepare plans and recommend structures to enable decisions to be made by the relevant bodies in the University, contingent upon the legislation being passed in one form or another. The other members are the PVC(T), the Dean of SSH and the Director of External Relations. It is likely that an expert group of staff who would be involved in administering the new arrangements will also be formed.

3. There will be an extensive consultation process and regular reports will be made to Senate, Council and other committees as appropriate.

4. The working party will also review the process for setting tuition fees for all award-bearing courses.

5. Details of the Government’s proposals can be found on the internet at http://www.dfes.gov.uk/highereducation/hereform.shtml