Nemesis Inferno
Strata Poster
^I would assume the more 'traditional' subjects; sciences, maths, english, engineering, etc; rather than the 'newer' things like film, photography and pyschology...
FORUMS - COASTERFORCE
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Student Riots (and this kind of demonstration...)
- Thread starter furie
- Start date
Jake
Strata Poster
I think the main issue is not just the increase in fees, but also the simultaneous decrease in spending... this means that in general university is going to cost more, and students get less out of it.
Personally, I'm not too bothered about the cuts and tuition fee rises as they're not really affecting me. I don't have that long left of uni, and i'm doing a Business course (the largest single faculty of my university) so nothing is going to change between now and my graduation.
As long as loans are still available, I don't see the problem with the fees going up. It's still a hell of a lot less than a lot of people in other countries pay for university.
Also, I actually think that students from a low-income background are always the ones with the most money. The amount of free money (and the amount waived from fees) that some of my friends with single (or retired) parents get is absurd, whereas my parents are just over the threshold meaning that I get nothing. Mummy and Daddy aren't loaded enough to let me live like a king, but they have to help me out because the government refuse to give me any money. It's such an abused system anyway... anyone with self-employed parents fiddles the books and ends up with grants and bursaries that they really don't need. My best mate claire never had ANY money last year, and had to live off like £20 a week. Her parents are minted, but she isn't spoiled and hated asking them for money. I know it's impossible to please everyone, but having rich parents doesn't necessarily mean you're not going to struggle.
I think they should look into scrapping schemes such as EMA... everyone at college/sixth form is still living at home, so paying them just for turning up is just crazy. I know £30-odd a week isn't exactly a lot, but a hell of a lot more people are at college than uni... i'd love to know how much EMA costs the taxpayer per year.
Is it compulsary to stay in education/training 18 yet? Perhaps that's the best time to scrap silly EMA, as the main argument for it's existance was to 'encourage people to chose education instead of getting a crap job'. Surely if you HAVE to stay in school/college/whatever, the choice is gone and EMA has no meaning?
Personally, I'm not too bothered about the cuts and tuition fee rises as they're not really affecting me. I don't have that long left of uni, and i'm doing a Business course (the largest single faculty of my university) so nothing is going to change between now and my graduation.
As long as loans are still available, I don't see the problem with the fees going up. It's still a hell of a lot less than a lot of people in other countries pay for university.
Also, I actually think that students from a low-income background are always the ones with the most money. The amount of free money (and the amount waived from fees) that some of my friends with single (or retired) parents get is absurd, whereas my parents are just over the threshold meaning that I get nothing. Mummy and Daddy aren't loaded enough to let me live like a king, but they have to help me out because the government refuse to give me any money. It's such an abused system anyway... anyone with self-employed parents fiddles the books and ends up with grants and bursaries that they really don't need. My best mate claire never had ANY money last year, and had to live off like £20 a week. Her parents are minted, but she isn't spoiled and hated asking them for money. I know it's impossible to please everyone, but having rich parents doesn't necessarily mean you're not going to struggle.
I think they should look into scrapping schemes such as EMA... everyone at college/sixth form is still living at home, so paying them just for turning up is just crazy. I know £30-odd a week isn't exactly a lot, but a hell of a lot more people are at college than uni... i'd love to know how much EMA costs the taxpayer per year.
Is it compulsary to stay in education/training 18 yet? Perhaps that's the best time to scrap silly EMA, as the main argument for it's existance was to 'encourage people to chose education instead of getting a crap job'. Surely if you HAVE to stay in school/college/whatever, the choice is gone and EMA has no meaning?
ciallkennett
Strata Poster
EMA is stopping as of September 2011 - this is the last academic year that it is running.
jayjay
Giga Poster
I think these protests, although showing that we care about the situation, were completely counter-productive. Effectively, we've had our chance to show the public that we should be looked at as a good investment in the future and continued to trash up London, confirming all of the student stereotypes. It doesn't matter that actually there were a load of peaceful protesters, the media will accentuate what was more interesting. Well done those few select students who destroyed our public image.
In terms of value for money, I reckon I've probably got a very good value degree (Engineering at Cambridge). There's already been plenty of well structured and clear lectures by staff who are at the forefront of research. The facilities offered are pretty good and although I have my annoyances with the course structure, the practical sessions have been very useful. So I find it more difficult to comment on how I view fees. I don't want them to go up, and I'm sure no student would, but I think for what some people get (science degrees especially), the price is still going to be pretty damn good. Consider also, that a lot of university societies and services receive funding from the university. I think the people who really should have low fees are the people who don't receive much in the way of lectures, classes etc. (such as Smithy) so really, I think a sliding scale would work best. You pay money based on what resources your degree uses. It's not really fair that I'll be paying £6k a year for labs, heaps of lectures, demonstrations and somebody else pays for 3 lectures a week and occasionally somebody to mark their essay.
In terms of value for money, I reckon I've probably got a very good value degree (Engineering at Cambridge). There's already been plenty of well structured and clear lectures by staff who are at the forefront of research. The facilities offered are pretty good and although I have my annoyances with the course structure, the practical sessions have been very useful. So I find it more difficult to comment on how I view fees. I don't want them to go up, and I'm sure no student would, but I think for what some people get (science degrees especially), the price is still going to be pretty damn good. Consider also, that a lot of university societies and services receive funding from the university. I think the people who really should have low fees are the people who don't receive much in the way of lectures, classes etc. (such as Smithy) so really, I think a sliding scale would work best. You pay money based on what resources your degree uses. It's not really fair that I'll be paying £6k a year for labs, heaps of lectures, demonstrations and somebody else pays for 3 lectures a week and occasionally somebody to mark their essay.
Hahaha, the scumbag who allegedly threw the fire extinguisher was arrested in Southampton yesterday. Yes, you can protest, but if you're an idiot, you should be removed from the gene pool. http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/8638524 ... t_protest/
Nemesis Inferno
Strata Poster
Ian said:
QFT