University of Central Lancashire to charge £9,000 a year in fees (From Lancashire Telegraph)

University of Central Lancashire to charge £9,000 a year in fees

11:21am Tuesday 5th April 2011 in Education By Nafeesa Shan, Reporter

standards The Burnley campus of the University of Central Lancashire

STUDENTS at University of Central Lancashire will be charged full tuition fees of £9,000 from next year, it has been announced.

Bosses have set the level at the maximum after the government scrapped the current £3,290 cap.

University of Central Lancashire vice-chancellor Malcolm McVicar said it could only provide a ‘superlative education' if it replaced lost state funding through fees.

However, the university has announced it will be creating schemes to help disadvantaged students.

Mr McVicar said: “We are committed to providing a superlative education that equips students with the knowledge, skills, and experience to be successful global citizens.

"This is only possible if we replace the lost state funding through fees.

“Fee levels of £9,000 will allow us to do that and in the coming months the university will announce a comprehensive student package to ensure that all students, regardless of their background, can continue to benefit from the life-changing opportunities a University of Central Lancashire degree offers.”

Michael Palmer, president of the university’s Students’ Union, said: “The coalition government has imposed a funding system on the sector that we do not believe is sustainable.

“It does not serve the interests of students or institutions.

“It is absolutely essential that University of Central Lancashire puts in place an access agreement that will give students both choice and flexibility.”

Coun Julie Cooper, leader of the Labour Burnley group, said: “I am absolutely disgusted by this.

"With university fees at this level I think there will be a huge drop in people studying in higher education.

“The cost has trebled and people don’t want to get into huge debts.”

Blackburn College has already announced its fees will be set between £6,000 and £7,000.

Those planning to charge the maximum are Cambridge, Oxford, Imperial College London, University College London, Manchester, Warwick, Essex, Leeds, Durham, Lancaster, Bath, Birmingham, Loughborough, Exeter, Sussex, Surrey, Liverpool, Aston, Liverpool John Moores, Reading, Kent, Central Lancashire and Leicester.