Higher education colleges set to charge lower tuition fees

14 Apr 11
Colleges that offer higher education courses are ready to undercut the £9,000 tuition fee declared by most universities.
By Mark Smulian


15 April 2011

Colleges that offer higher education courses are ready to undercut the £9,000 tuition fee declared by most universities.

A survey by the Association of Colleges answered by 31 of its members found 12 expected to charge £6,000 or more, but 19 less than that amount.

‘Most colleges are yet to formally declare their fee level but our study shows that most will want to charge under £6,000,’ said AoC higher education policy manager Nick Davy.

‘Traditionally college tuition fees have, on average, been lower than those set by universities.’

The government’s changes to tuition fees have set these at £6,000, or up to £9,000 if universities commit to widen access. Almost all universities have so far said they will charge the full £9,000 for all degree courses.

Davy said college courses tended to have a vocational emphasis and be designed in partnership with employers. This appealed to many students and would be a factor for them to consider along as they weighed up their options for higher education.

There are 260 further education colleges teaching some 160,000 students on higher education courses.

Some colleges are funded directly by the Higher Education Funding Council for England and set their own fees, while others get their money through agreements with partner universities and set fees in consultation with them.

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