Durham’s independent student newspaper
Palatinate
www.palatinate.org.uk
6
No. 762
Thursday 8th May 2014 | FREE
News: Indian High Commissioner visits Durham
10
SciTech: UK energy debate New riverside safety measures are being considered. Full story on page four.
Photograph: Joyce Uerpairojkit
International students see fee increase
‘Fixed-fees’ campaign set back by £900 international student fee increase James Poole
15
Comment: Cameron’s ‘Christian nation’
Sport: Hill Bailey 19 Fundraiser
A national campaign designed to abolish increases to international tuition fees has been hampered by the University’s plans to further increase fees by up to £900 for the next academic year. International students completing a laboratory-based course at Durham will next year see their tuition fees increase from £17,000 to £17,900 while classroom-based courses will increase from £13,300 to £14,000. According to the National Union of Students, these increases represent a growing trend at UK universities, as their campaign has revealed that each year 175,000 students have their fees increased “without notice, reason or support.”
David Morris, the Durham Student Union’s Academic Officer, said: “Durham has raised its fees at a consistent rate of around £700 over the last four years, though there is variation on some specific courses. “This does not appear to be directly linked to wider inflation trends. “Fees for classroom courses have increased from £11,970 in 2011/2012 to £14,000 for 2014/15, and for laboratory courses from £15,300 to £17,900 in the same time span.” Durham University’s decision to substantially increase international tuition fees has come at a time when the Universities of Manchester, Edinburgh and Nottingham have responded to the NUS’ campaign, implementing a fixed-fee system
for their international students. The increases have sparked major concern over the welfare of international students at Durham with some claiming that they are unable to cover the cost of food or travel home during holidays.
“I feel used as an international student – my fees are jacked up so that the University can make more money”
Anonymous Student
One international student at Durham who preferred to remain anonymous told Palatinate: “I am working two jobs to make up last year’s £700 increase, which means I don’t have any time for any serious extra-curricular activities because my evenings and afternoons are always busy. “I feel used as an international student – my fees are jacked up so that the University can make more money.” Another student, who also wished to remain anonymous, said: “Economic hardship is my norm at the moment. “If I had known ahead of time that there would be this much of an increase to my fees I almost definitely would have gone to a different University. Continued on page 3