Lifelong Learning Centre

Fees and financial support for part-time study in English higher education 2012-2013

M.J. Morgan

2012 fees/funding regime

• New fees: variable, up to £9K per level full-time

• Tuition fee loans for part-time students

• Financial support for 25% FTE

• No upper age limit for tuition fee loans

• Part-time students no longer automatically deemed to be ‘independent’

Issues arising: fees

Institutional fee-setting:

• What are universities doing about part-time fees?

• Possible implications:

Final departure of ELQs?

End of employer funding for courses?

Other/overall effects on student recruitment?

Issues arising: financial support

• Institutional support packages

• Mechanics of applying these to part-time students

• Variations in types of courses offered by LL depts (much less ‘standard’ than other depts?)

• Operational arrangements within the institution

And another thing… (or two)

• Mindset of part-time, mature learners

• Maintenance of separate systems for pre-2012 cohort(s)