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Professors speak out - 96% against privatisation of university education

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:43:33 +0100

A poll of 500 professors resulted in an overwhelming, 96.2% majority against government proposals to encourage the growth of private universities in the UK, even as the first new private sector college to be granted university college status for 30 years was announced, BPP College of Professional Studies.

The University and College Union (UCU) has highlighted the professorial poll to warn minister David Willetts against privatisation plans, pointing out that private universities are not subject to the same academic rigour or public scrutiny - and that their proliferation could seriously damage the UK's international reputation for the provision of top quality university education.

UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said the news could mark the beginning of a slippery slope. 'Encouraging the growth of private providers and making it easier for them to call themselves universities would be a disaster for the UK's academic reputation. It would also represent a huge threat to academic freedom and standards.

She added, 'It is essential that David Willetts listens to our finest minds instead of being wooed by a private sector more interested in profit than probity.'

David Willetts said: "The coalition Government is committed to promoting a wider range of educational opportunities ... and matching the skills employers want.' He added that it was healthy to have a 'vibrant' private sector working alongside traditional universities.

Full story on the UCU website

When the dust settles, how will students fund their studies in future?

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 10:29:30 +0100

If you're feeling confused by all the conflicting reports over the future of university funding that isn't surprising. Last week, Universities Secretary Vince Cable said the coalition was keen to investigate the idea of a variable graduate contribution or tax. That was quickly followed by senior Conservatives saying the government was unlikely to back this idea.

Money is certainly needed - this year we are told that the demand for university places has risen by 70,000, so a total of 660,953 people, including foreign students, applied in time for the 30 June deadline to start full-time undergraduate courses at UK institutions this autumn, compared to 592,312 last year. Now some estimates say there will be no places for as many as 200,000 applicants. Most authorities agree that having a greater proportion of young people going on to tertiary education is a good thing but that requires funding.

Vince Cable outlined a possible system where graduates would pay an increased rate of taxation, which would be higher for higher earners. Meanwhile Lord Browne's review of fees, which is due to make its report this autumn, is expected to lift the cap on individual universities charging more, so fees could go up to around £7000 a year.

Other moves to cut costs have also been mooted - two-year degrees, more students studying part-time, by distance learning or living at home, and expanding the role of private institutions.

For a fuller discussion of the questions and answers on what the situation is now and could eventually be, see the BBC's feature Q & A on University Funding. The Complete University Guide's own pages on finance will help to give you a picture of the current funding possibilities for students who are looking at going to university this year.

Steep rise in first and upper second class degrees - maths and languages lead the way

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 10:03:32 +0100

As final year students await news of their degree results it has been revealed that almost twice as many first class degrees are being awarded by UK universities today, compared to 14 years ago - this is the most startling of the latest figures compiled by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

There is also a notable increase in the percentage of those getting an upper second, from 42% in 1995 from to 46% in 2009 - that translates to a total of 131,480 students gaining a 2:1 last year.

Mathematical sciences saw the sharpest rise in students getting an upper second class or above going from 48% in 1995 to 62% last year, while those taking language degrees (including English) tend to do very well, with 74% obtaining a 2:1 or higher against 51% in computer science. Both have seen significant rises in the top grades.

This is all good news, especially set against the the recent announcement by the Association of Graduate Recruiters that four out of five employers now looking for graduate employees are insisting on a minimum 2:1 grade - so the bar is getting higher. But it also needs to be seen in context - over 15 years, the number of students awarded a 2:2 has remained fairly steady at roughly 77,000 to 81,000.

So if you graduate at that level today you will find yourself up against almost 140,000 better-qualified rivals - nearly 30,000 more than you would have done in 1995.

For league tables of which universities gain the best honours degrees in which subjects, see the Complete University Guide's 2010 tables. For more details of this story and graphs of results see the BBC website.

When a 2:1 is not enough - what employers, and graduates, really want

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 13:47:25 +0100

The graduate jobs market is getting tougher, say all the media - employers want minimum 2:1s, shout the headlines. A BBC survey of employers and students gives a sample of the true situation.

In the financial sector it reports some recovery after last year's collapse in graduate jobs. The international accountancy firm, Ernst and Young, has increased its graduate intake by 30% since last year and plans to recruit 900 university leavers for 2011.

But it's tough competition. The company wants people to have 2:1 degrees, but it's not an automatic cut-off, 'if [applicants] have a good story tto tell we are interested in hiring them,' said a spokesperson.

The firm's UK head of graduate recruitment also suggested young people might have to look further afield than the City of London:

'Graduates need to get on their bikes for work this year... There are some fantastic opportunities to work for major global organisations like Ernst & Young, based in towns up and down the country such as Reading and Southampton, which provide the same career development opportunities.'

Supermarket chain Aldi reports that the volume of graduate applications for the group's management scheme, with its attractive £40,000 starting salary rising to £61,000 in three years, is now 12,000 applicants for every 50 places. There's an online form, plus a requirement for a 2:1 degree and evidence of leadership and commitment outside of studies.

"Graduates who stand out from the mix are those that combine academic and non-academic skills and experiences," says Aldi head of graduate recruitment Richard Holloway.

"Leading a local or university sports team, carrying out voluntary or charity work, having a part-time job, or going the extra mile to reach individual potential is favoured over first-class honours."

Even getting an interview depends on a persuasive CV. Aldi advises applicants to provide an informative, succinct and spell-checked account of achievements, qualifications and skills, not spreading beyond two pages.

It even gives the best font to use - Arial 11 point.

For information on graduate employment generally, and the tables for which universities offer the best employment figures, see the Complete University Guide's Graduate Prospect pages. For more on this survey plus students' own experiences of looking for jobs, see the BBC website.

Top student services at Sheffield - 2010 Leadership and Management Awards

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 11:52:42 +0100

The University of Sheffield has won the 2010 award for Outstanding Student Services Team, and York St John University the award for Outstanding Student Admissions Team, in the second ever annual selection by the Times Higher Education Awards, presented at the Grosvenor House Hotel this month.

Launched last year amid what the THE calls 'the gloom of deep recession' the awards were designed to celebrate the leadership, management, financial and business skills of the higher education sector - they have sparked an enthusiastic response around the UK and for 2010 there were 264 entries across the 18 categories.

Other winners include the University of Newcastle, for their Research Management team, and the University of Derby, for Leadership and Management.

The judges said that their choice of winners 'demonstrated the professionalism and dedication that underpin the UK's world-class research and teaching enterprise and give the sector an unrivalled body of best practice.'

For a full list of winners, see the THE website.

Wanted - graduates with flair, vision and a passion for John Lewis

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 15:47:15 +0100

Students who share in this country's love affair with the John Lewis Partnership can now look forward to new opportunities for making a career with the company. From September this year the John Lewis recruitment programme begins two new graduate schemes, one in buying, one in merchandising.

In the past, would-be buyers have had to apply for the general management scheme and then work their way into head office but now can apply to start at entry level to become an assistant buyer, and within 3 to 5 years if all goes well they could be buying globally and handling multi-million budgets.

Sophie Milliken, the group's graduate recruitment manager, says they are looking for people with flair, vision and a passion for the John Lewis ethos - that's good service to customers and profit sharing for staff who become "partners" in the business.

For merchandising you need to be able to look at the numbers and forecast product sales. "We're looking for people with maths skills who are good at thinking logically. They will work alongside the buyers. The buyer might see a range of products and say 'wow', and the merchandiser has to bring them down to earth and start talking about units and figures," says Milliken.

Graduate trainees start on £24,000 plus the partnership bonus, while an assistant buyer can earn £23,600 to £32,800. Fully-fledged buyers earn between £43,000 and £87,250 plus bonus.

More details on this story from the Independent website

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/higher/graduate-news-john-lewis-in-search-of-flair-and-passion-1995535.html

'Fresher Freshers' to grow their own

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 10:39:24 +0100

The traditional image of university students as cash strapped with less than perfect diets could be about to change with the introduction of a new scheme from Homebase and the National Union of Students (NUS) to allow thousands of undergraduates to grow and eat their own fruit and veg. With rising student debt and high food inflation impacting on student dietary habits, the introduction of the 'Fresher Freshers' initiative couldn't come at a better time.

Launching on Friday 28 May, the Grow Your Own' (GYO) scheme aims to promote a long-term behavioral change amongst some of the most financially pressured in society, who often struggle to eat a balanced diet. The average student leaves university with £20,000 worth of debt^{^[1]}and recent research into student eating habits^{^[2]} showed that 63% of students have changed their diet to eat less nutritious food as a result of financial pressures. With food inflation rising to 2.6% in April^{^[3]} and £200 million of university funding cuts just announced, this effect is only likely to increase.

The Homebase scheme will provide plants, seeds and tools, as well as advice and support from local stores, to universities that have provided land and staff to support the initiative. Campus activity will include creation of GYO societies, development of plots and polytunnels, the implementation of veg box schemes and the sale of produce back to fellow students and local communities.

Matthew Compton, category manager, garden horticulture at Homebase says: "This initiative is about creating a generation of graduates with healthier, greener and more pocket-friendly eating habits. If students learn at this influential life-stage to grow healthy, fresh food for themselves and their local communities we hope they will take those skills and that passion on into later life. The GYO category increased 30% year on year in 2009 and we want students to be able to benefit from this social trend."

Susan Nash, Vice President of Society and Citizenship of NUS says "Recent NUS research has shown us that 42% of students would grow their own fruit and vegetables if given the facilities and tools. The 'Fresher Freshers' initiative offers universities and students that opportunity and we are looking forward to seeing the fruits of our labour in the near future."

The initial rollout will see capital, product and expert support provided to the University of Bradford Union, Leeds University Union, Liverpool Guild of Students, University of Gloucestershire Students' Union, University of Bristol Union, Students' Union Royal Holloway and University of Kent Union.

Student Sarah Taylor, who has been involved in a growing project at The University of Gloucestershire, says: "With virtually no experience of growing food or gardening when I got involved in the project, I've learnt far more than I ever expected. The practical skills, community involvement and the love of growing and cooking food are amongst the many pleasures of the project that I will take with me throughout my life."

Students can log on to the online community http://www.getintogardening.co.uk/ get recipe ideas, growing tips and chat to other 'grow your own' enthusiasts in the forum section.

[1] Survey by Push student guides, August 2008
[2] Sodexo University Lifestyle Survey, March 2010
[3] British Retail Consortium, May 2010

If the cap lifts - how much will students have to pay for their courses?

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 09:53:33 +0100

Everyone is expecting the cap on university fees to be lifted - but by how much? Recent reports in the media claimed the Browne review of university funding was considering allowing fees to be raised by £1000 a year for five years - which would mean students at Oxford and Cambridge could end up paying around £7000 a year.

The Browne review is not due to make its final report until the autumn. But according to a recent Independent article the Russell Group of leading UK universities has announced its members would consider radical steps such as going private if there was no way to increase cash for the universities. This came in the wake of the coalition government's announcement of a further £200 million cuts to higher education.

There is a possibility that Labour MPs might band with Lib Dem rebels to vote down proposals to raise tuition fees.

The Russell Group is clear that the fees cap would need to be lifted in order for universities to maintain standards in the face of such cutbacks. Director General of the group, Dr Wendy Piatt said, 'Without clear means of increasing their income, meeting these challenges begins to look like an impossible task. There is now a real risk that we could lose academics who have been responsible for discoveries that have changed the lives of millions of people for the better or tutors who have inspired generations of students and turned them into outstanding doctors, engineers and entrepreneurs.'

More on this story from the Independent website, and advice and information on all aspects of student finance on the Complete University Guide's money pages

Retraining for Working Mums

Thu, 27 May 2010 14:40:42 +0100

Many mums have given up careers to raise their children. Some mums haven't held a job in the work force in years. Now when children are older and in school, many mums seek to find a job, often part time jobs. Since times have changed since they worked before, many mums see a need a retrain for a particular career or perhaps they desire to seek out a career in a new field. After becoming a parent, some mums find their priorities and interests changing. Perhaps there are no longer many positions available in your field, so you need to seek a new opportunity. Whatever the situation, retraining is necessary.

When seeking to retrain for a career, you must first decide upon what you want to do. Consider your desires as well as your lifestyle. Many mums take into consideration their children's' needs when selecting a career. Once you decide upon a field of interest, do a little research on that field. Find out about job availability, necessary skills and training. Make sure these fit with your needs. Many working mums want a career that provides them with some flexibility. Others select careers that allow them to only work part time, giving them time for their families.

When you have this narrowed down and select a field of interest, there are some other things you must consider. Some retraining can be rather costly. Consider this expense before beginning. Perhaps it is so costly, that it cannot fit in your budget. Some careers may require retraining that takes a considerable amount of time. You might not have this much time to devote to retraining. All of these factors are key for working mums to ponder when selecting a job for them. Perhaps you can find another job within a field of interest that requires less training, which will get you out into the work force quicker.

Some retraining programs offer financial aid arrangements for working mums. Check out these services provide as they could help make a potential financial obstacle an easy hurdle to jump with some assistance. Some careers offer working mums a job while they train. Whatever you choose, it is essential to make it fit for your lifestyle. Visit workingmums.co.uk for a list of available jobs.

New head of loans company must repair 'calamitous reputation' say students

Wed, 26 May 2010 10:15:09 +0100

The National Union of Students has welcomed the departure of two executives at the head of the troubled Student Loans Company - both the Chief Executive, Ralph Seymour-Jackson, and the Chair, John Goodfellow, have stood down.

The new head of the SLC is Sir Deian Hopkins. He faces an uphill task to put things right after last year's debacle, when thousands of students were left without resources at the start of their university career.

The NUS President-Elect Aaron Porter warned, 'Processing delays, along with recent redundancies, website problems and confusion over repayments do not bode well for the organisation's ability to avoid a repeat of last year's loans fiasco. We wish Sir Deian Hopkin well in getting a grip on the SLC, which is a lifeline to millions of students.

'This is an opportunity for the Student Loans Company to put its previous calamitous reputation firmly behind it. We will be seeking cast-iron guarantees from the new leadership that students will never again be left without vital financial support.'

Students for courses beginning in 2010 have again been urged to put their applications for loans in as early as possible to avoid delays - the date for non-means tested loans has now passed, but for means-tested loans the deadline is 25 June.

For advice and information on student finance go to the Complete University Guide's money pages, and for more on the NUS statement see their website.

Coalition promises more university places - but no word yet on fees

Thu, 20 May 2010 10:59:34 +0100

The Tory/Lib Dem government has pledged to increase the availability of university places in England, but insists it must await the findings of Lord Browne's independent review before making any proonouncement on fees.

The government has not yet said how many new university places it is prepared to fund. As regards fees, it will judge its proposals against the need to 'increase social mobility; take into account the impact on student debt; ensure a properly funded university sector; improve the quality of teaching; advance scholarship; and attract a higher proportion of students from disadvantaged backgrounds.'

Nick Clegg's party campaigned strongly on the promise to scrap fees altogether, but the Conservatives now say: "if the response of the government to Lord Browne's review is one that the Liberal Democrats cannot accept; then arrangements will be made to enable Liberal Democrat MPs to abstain in any vote".

The NUS today published an open letter to new Deputy Prime Minister Clegg asking for immediate clarification on the Government's stance on the future of student top-up fees.

However, the Russell Group of top universities has just recommended that fees should be uncapped - their second submission to the Browne review suggests, 'an increase in graduate contributions is the only viable and fair way to secure the future of the UK’s world class higher education system and the universities’ vital role in educating a workforce for the global economy.'

New institutions challenge the old guard's dominance

Thu, 20 May 2010 07:56:55 +0100

The position of "old" universities established before 1992 is continuing to be threatened by younger upstarts in the table compiled by The Complete University Guide in association with The Independent. Although Oxford remains at the top of the university pecking order for the third year running, with Cambridge and Imperial College London again in second and third place respectively, there has been movement in the middle ranks.

And there have been noticeable shifts, too, in the fortunes of universities in the top 20. Lancaster, for example, has risen from 12th to eighth place in the 2011 league table because of an improvement in its student satisfaction score and because graduate prospects are better as shown in the numbers getting graduate jobs or undertaking further study six months after leaving university.

"Lancaster gives students contact with some of the best teaching staff in the UK," says its vice-chancellor, Professor Paul Wellings. "We have a bustling and newly transformed campus, and students love the sense of community."

The university has been working hard to improve the employability of its students, according to Professor Amanda Chetwynd, pro-vice-chancellor for colleges and the student experience. "We have put our centre for employment, enterprise and careers in our main square, right at the heart of the campus, which means it is in the students' minds," she says. "As a result, students come in to it a lot more than they used to."

Students are also being urged to start thinking very early in their degree courses about what they want to do when they graduate, and they are offered short periods of work experience over the summer or at Easter. For the full article in The Independent >

Textbookexchange.co.uk saves students from book store monopoly

Tue, 11 May 2010 12:01:36 +0100

Students from universities across the UK are beginning to wake up to the extortionate prices book stores and publishers charge for new textbooks.

Recent studies have shown that students use, on average, 12 different textbooks over their time at university which can cost upwards of £200. Savvy students have long attempted to side-step these costs using their library or buying used textbooks from their older peers. However, libraries only provide limited numbers of books, forcing students to wait in line and buying used was only possible when you had the right contacts in the year above.

An entrepreneurial student from the London School of Economics saw these problems and created a solution that wrestles the expensive issue of textbooks into a smooth, stress-free, cheap one. He envisaged a website where students could buy and sell textbooks without being charged any commission. The idea is now a reality in the form of TextbookExchange.co.uk, which draws the interest of students who want to get a better deal on textbooks.

Sanjay Dave, an LSE student from Dartmouth, plans to use TextbookExchange.co.uk. "As a law student, I spent almost £300 on books last year. I'll definitely be buying online. I am not going to Waterstones. They don't have too many used books," he said. Thousand of students in the UK feel the same way, Textbook Exchange could not have come at a better time, with money on everybody's mind in the current climate, students are looking for alternatives.

"Students have always bought and sold used textbooks, but usually to people they already know and in a very informal way, what TextbookExchange.co.uk tries to do, is become the go-to place where a much wider selection of books is available. This means bigger savings for buyers and a larger audience for sellers." Says Textbook Exchange founder, Janak Shah.

Students are constantly looking for ways to supplement their student loan, selling textbooks on the exchange means that they are able to set their own prices, rather than having to accept ludicrously low offers from stores.

A key feature of the exchange was making the service accessible to all and the site has been carefully molded around ease-of-use. "You enter what you have, or what you want and we'll do the rest." Janak Shah says. "We've also differentiated ourselves from the likes of Amazon and Ebay in that we don't charge a fee or commission to those selling their books. Our service is completely free."

Although some texts are now available in electronic form, students still seem to prefer books in physical form, which means the future looks bright for TextbookExchange.co.uk .

Top universities up in arms over Russell Group's evidence on fees

Tue, 11 May 2010 09:23:41 +0100

Angry students from 20 leading universities are demanding that the Russell Group reveal evidence it has submitted to the government's review of tuition fees, which the Group has so far refused to do.

Students say they do not see why the views of the influential Russell Group should not be made public, alongside the views of other university groups which have already been published.

Attempts by students from Oxford University to use freedom of information requests to force the publication of the Russell Group's submission were rejected by the government.

Emmanuel Akpan-Inwang fom the student's union at the London School of Economics said it was 'completely unacceptable' that evidence from their universities that so directly impacts on students was being kept hidden.

However, the Russell Group is rejecting any claim of secrecy, saying that the submission to the fees review was always intended as part of a wider report on student funding which will be published in the next few weeks - it does not want documents to be seen 'out of context'.

The students have drawn up a formal protest letter which asks the Russell Group to publish its evidence immediately and to give a firm date for the publication of its full report.

Call for tax breaks for graduate recruiters, as number of applicants doubles

Tue, 04 May 2010 15:23:21 +0100

High-profile employers are more than ever inundated with applicants for graduate schemes and apprenticeships - British Gas revealed last week that it received more than 65,000 applications for 600 schemes, that is about twice as many as usual.

The employment magazine, Personnel Today reports that mobile phone operator Vodafone also had over 3,000 applicants for the 50 places on its graduate scheme, launched last year, while retailer Debenhams received 2,000 applications for the 25 graduate trainee places available this year, from advertising only on its own website and graduate career websites.

The latest Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR) survey into the graduate recruitment market revealed that there are, on average, 48 applications for every position. The AGR has been lobbying government to devise tax breaks for employers who up their intake of graduate recruits.

The news comes as the latest figures on youth unemployment have been released at 929,000 - and would have hit exactly 1m without the 71,000 quarterly jump in student numbers.

More information on this and related stories from Personnel Today website.

Kaplan Open Learning

Fri, 30 Apr 2010 08:04:52 +0100

Many want to take advantage of higher education offerings but may have difficulty getting to do so. Many prospective students find themselves working full time or part time jobs with difficulty fitting courses into their busy day. For those wanting to obtain an education but have busy schedules, have some options available to them today. The internet has made many tasks accessible online. Education is one of these. Kaplan Open Learning offers numerous degrees with easy to access adult education courses for working adults. This comes as a spur to provide more and more of the workforce within the United Kingdom with the opportunity to participate in higher learning.

Kaplan Open Learning is affiliated with the University of Essex. Two types of degrees can earned at Kaplan Open Learning. These include university foundation degrees or the more prestigious Honours Degree. Working towards a foundation degree is ideal for those working full time or part time jobs. The foundation degree programs offer a great deal of flexibility. This can provide you with the means to obtain a job promotion or even change careers. You may also use your new degree to begin a business to be your own boss.

In order to participate in Kaplan Open Learning courses, you do not need to have levels or similar qualifications. Kaplan Open Learning is unique as it considers what kind of work experiences you have and considers this. In order to take Kaplan courses, a student only needs to have access to the internet. When you decide upon the degree you want to work towards, Kaplan will provide you with a flexible program of study. Not only do these provide flexibility to their students but Kaplan also has a host of tutoring experts. These people provide assistance to students.

When you enrol in Kaplan Open Learning, you are not only a student of Kaplan but also with Kaplan's affiliate, the University of Essex. The university oversees the quality of the education obtained at Kaplan Open Learning. Kaplan Open Learning has various programs across the world and this long experience helps contribute to their award winning programs.

University Open Days - why they are not to be missed

Wed, 28 Apr 2010 12:30:36 +0100

Students in Year 12 (lower sixth) who are thinking of choosing their university for next year, or those who in year 13 who haven't applied pre-A Level this year, there is clear advice from teachers and universities alike - make time to go to the Open Days!

Most universities have excellent websites and prospectuses and of course the Complete University Guide will give you the latest league tables and profiles, but for helping you make the final decision there's nothing to beat going to the campus and taking a look at the facilities and accommodation for yourself, talking to current undergraduates and tutors, checking out the surrounding town or countryside.

Mandy Firth, head of undergraduate recruitment at Keele University, believes that an open day can also help prospective students to make the final choice of degree they want to do.

"We encourage students to book in advance so they can get their hands on a programme and make a plan to get the most out of the day. There are a lot of things going on and people need to know what they want to ask about. It's probably best to come up with a list of questions beforehand and to know who to talk to."

Nottingham University events officer Jenny Wardrop also thinks that a pre-application open day is good for people in Year 12 or 13 who want to narrow down their choices. Nottingham's June and September weekends will each attract 20,000 visitors and it runs eight more mini "campus tour days" throughout the year.

Charles Elder, Bournemouth University's press manager agrees: "Picking your university is about getting a gut feeling by talking to staff and students, and seeing if you're going to gel. This is your chance to look behind the scenes."

A full schedule of university open days is available on the Open Day website, and you can see more about open days on the Independent online

Students and Debt

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 10:48:35 +0100

At the end of three years at University, the average student in England is £20,000 in debt and many can add a significant sum on top of that. These numbers could sky rocket in the coming years, with some politicians considering raising top-up fees even further, meaning students could be saddled with £50,000 of debt or more for just an undergraduate course.

For many people, this is a reason not to go to University. £20,000 for three years and a qualification, is it really worth it?

That question is a little difficult to answer, the government would say yes very quickly as it's been trying to get more students to go to university for decades and so far has succeeded admirably. The best advice should be simply, do you want to go? If so, go, if you're not sure, what do you want to do? If it's something that will almost certainly require a degree, you should go, if it's not and you don't want to go, then don't.

The important thing to remember is that the debt that comes as part of a student loan is not like personal loans that you might get from a bank. Of course you have to pay it back, but the interest rate is not particularly high and the government is never going to be knocking on your door asking for the money back and you're never going to be credit blacklisted if you don't pay it (although, it should be remembered, not paying isn't really an option as it's usually taken directly from your payslip).

That's not to say that the debt should be taken lightly, far from it, but it's not yet at such astronomical levels where it should be considered a reason not to go. Many surveys have found that the average graduate earns a lot more than £20,000 which is more than the average person who didn't go to University, though there are admittedly a number of factors involved that don't necessarily include simply having a degree.

University is a financial burden, and often quite a financial stress, particularly when it comes towards the end of term and the student loan is beginning to wear out. If you have a good student account, however (check out Santander for very competitive student bank accounts) your finances shouldn't be too much of a concern providing you're careful.

Getting the Right Student Account

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 07:44:39 +0100

One of the most important things that anyone can do when preparing for university is select the right student account. With just about every major bank offering a different option, the challenge is selecting the right one for you, so what should you look for?

1. Probably the most important element of any student account is an interest free overdraft. Most students drop into the overdraft at one time or another and it's a necessity that you don't get charged for it.

2. Overdraft size. Getting the right size of overdraft is a balancing act, whilst it's useful to have more safety net if you do have to use it, having thousands of pounds of spare capacity can be enticing. Also, remember that at some stage you're going to have to pay off that overdraft, so you don't want to be mired in it too deeply.

3. Internet access is absolutely vital. Most students live their lives on the internet and it's a lot easier to manage your ingoing's and outgoings if you set up for internet banking, it's not absolutely necessary, but it is a good idea.

4. Make sure that you know where your nearest branch is. If you end up getting an account with a regional bank and then go to another part of the country, it can be a disadvantage not having a branch nearby, especially if you think you may need to discuss things like reaching the bottom of your overdraft.

5. Interest rate. Very few good student accounts offer you excellent interest rates, mostly because these sorts of accounts are more like conventional savings accounts and not like student accounts so you may have to pay more for your overdraft. Still, any interest that you can earn is a bonus, so it should be a consideration.

6. Optional extras, most banks offer something to sweeten the deal like music vouchers, railcards or a little bit of additional cash. If you really can't choose between two accounts, pick on the strength of the additional bits and pieces that they offer.

A good student account is vital to managing your finances at University. Make sure that you look at more than just a couple of banks, and it's definitely worth taking a look at Santander's student account if you want a benchmark to work against (visit their site for more on Santander's current accounts). It may take a little time to find the right account, but it will definitely prove to be time well spent.

Student vote is wooed by the three main parties

Wed, 21 Apr 2010 09:47:30 +0100

As the election looms, what are the three main political parties offering for students and higher education generally?

At the recent National Union of Students conference, the newly popular Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg asked students to 'shout loud' for what they wanted. He said the plans to lift the cap on tuition fees was 'wrong' and his party's manifesto would phase out tuition fees over the next six years, while Tory leader David Cameron said 'top-up fees have to stay' but promised an 'early replayment bonus' on student loans as well as other benefits.

Gordon Brown made no mention of fees but confirmed that Labour would offer 20,000 extra university places this year and said they have always fought for fairness - he told NUS members he would spend 'every waking hour fighting for your future.'

Students unions still say politicians are "hiding behind" a review, due to report after the election, to avoid questions on university funding and student fees. The new incoming president of the NUS, Aaron Porter, said he was disappointed by the lack of open debate.

The National Union of Students is keen to mobilise student voters over the issue of fees, particularly in constituencies with a large student population. They have asked candidates to pledge not to vote for an increase in tuition fees - so far 800 candidates have signed up.

"Come polling day any candidate who hides behind the review and refuses to come clean on their position on tuition fees will be punished at the ballot box," said Mr Porter. Current NUS President Wes Streeting agreed: "We are determined to hold parliamentary candidates to account, and help students in every constituency to understand which of those candidates is prepared to back student interests – on the record, and on a clear promise."

More details on this story from the BBC website and also from the NUS

The better your university, the better your career network

Mon, 12 Apr 2010 10:57:56 +0100

'It's not just what you know but who you know' is an old saying that's never been truer. The people you meet at university can have a major influence on your career, so the 'better' your university - better teaching, better facilities, and better peers - the more useful those contacts will be.

Adrian Furnham, Professor of Psychology at UCL is an expert on the workplace and he is quite clear: 'The people one bumps into as a student can come in very useful in later life.'

MBAs are particularly good at making the best use of networks and contacts made during university. 'UK [business] schools are boosting their efforts to meet increasing student expectations beyond the course itself,' says Jeanette Purcell, chief executive of the Association of MBAs. According to Amba, the key elements needed for a flourishing alumni network are frequent opportunities for networking, both online and in person, easy access to a good range of alumni groups and events wherever you are in the world, and continuing support with career and personal development.

But it need not only apply to business students - the Oxford Business Alumni network has 7,000 members, half of whom are business school graduates and half from across the university. Alumni regularly come back to help with recruitment and careers. The broad mixture is helpful to business and non-business students alike.

For information on business studies and other careers, you can see 2010 news and views on the Complete University Guide league table pages For more on this story, see the Independent website.

Calling all mums - on-line help with jobs and retraining

Fri, 09 Apr 2010 09:42:53 +0100

In the UK many mums give up careers to raise a family or take a break for a few years while they have young children. When they'd like to go back to work it isn't so easy - their industry may have moved on, perhaps offering fewer opportunities, and their own priorities may also have changed. Retraining is almost always a good idea.

Now a specialist website, www.workingmums.co.uk offers help with all aspects of retraining, starting with getting people to focus on what they want to do. That means your interests as well as your available time and finance, lifestyle needs - childcare may be an issue - and ambitions.

Some retraining can be costly, so it's essential to consider if you can manage the expense, and check out retraining programmes that offer financial help to mums and schemes that allow mums to work from home. Other careers may require retraining over a considerable period - the website can help you to consider other paths that might lead more quickly to an equally rewarding career.

All these factors and options are considered on the site, as well as details of jobs available, news and views - there are personal experiences and advice on offer too, so lots of support for anyone (and you don't have to be a mum, of course) who wants to get back into the workplace after a break.

University of Essex teams with Kaplan for online degrees

Thu, 08 Apr 2010 11:38:53 +0100

Kaplan Open Learning is an internationally recognised organisation offering online flexible higher education for those who can't or don't wish to take up university-based courses. Affiliated to the University of Essex, it offers both university Foundation and BA honours degrees in the areas of Business Management, Criminal Justice, and Financial Services

Many prospective students are busy with full or part-time work, are living in remote areas or have other demands on their time. So online study is fast becoming a highly popular option. The Kaplan foundation courses offer considerable flexibility, and require no A level or other qualifications - the course managers and tutoring experts will consider what kind of education and experience you have, and what you want to do in the future, and they help you tailor your course to those requirements.

A degree from Kaplan Open Learning's online tutor-led courses are similar to a traditional campus classroom but allow greater flexibility and a high-level, personalised support from tutors and advisers - the model has proved highly successful in the US and their award-winning programmes are working just as well in the UK, with quality assured by the University of Essex. For those thinking about promotion, a career change or starting their own business, an open learning course could well be the answer to gaining the necessary skills.

Universities in the digital age

Sun, 28 Mar 2010 08:48:27 +0100

Modern Market = Modern Marketing: Why universities should look to digital marketing to attract international students.

Britain's universities are working hard to attract international students. With the University and College Union (UCU) reporting 6000 lecturer job losses last year due to the recession, and the government announcing British Universities are to expect a £950 million cut in funding over the next 3 years, higher education institutions need to look elsewhere for financial support. The average non-EU student tuition fees for arts and science undergraduate degrees are around £10,000 per year, and with the potential to reach £20,000 depending on the course and establishment, the financial benefits for cash-strapped UK universities to recruit international students is obvious.

Having a strong online presence is vital. In China (the nationality that makes up a majority of non-EU admissions) agencies such as JJL Overseas Education and Consultancy Service assist in the enrolment of most Chinese students into UK education institutions. With agents taking anything from 10% to 25% of the enrolled students' yearly tuition fee from the establishment, universities could benefit immensely by cutting out the middleman and marketing to students directly. Statistics show that 31.7% of the 338 million Internet users in China are students. It is likely that students already look to the Internet as their primary source of information on UK universities, so, in order to draw them away from agents, it is crucial to ensure that websites target the right market, and that usability is optimised.

Localised research will give an insight into what students are looking for. A prominent London university points out that whilst business, law, and economics degrees are popular with their Chinese students, performing arts, media and psychology degrees are the chosen topics for Japanese. Marketing the subjects that are more likely to be popular within a nationality is more likely to bring ROI.

Usability can be improved by incorporating an interactive element to the university's site. Although the original content should provide users with a bulk of the key information, many young people now look to blogs and forums to help them answer specific questions. By providing potential students with a chance to do this on the site (as opposed to an off-site forum/blog) the site automatically becomes more 'user-friendly'. In turn this ensures the university appears in-touch with the needs of students coming from overseas.

Social network sites are also a modern and effective way to market to potential international students. A vast majority of SNS users are young people (aged 16-24). Again, it is important to keep in mind the locality of the market. Although Facebook and Twitter maybe the initial SNS that spring to mind in the UK, in China www.renren.com is popular with the student demographic. www.renren.com also allows users to access the site from mobile phones. Forty six percent per cent of Internet users in China are mobile, with a majority of those being teens. By implementing a good mobile strategy, universities again appear more in-touch with their young target market and are able to reach a potentially vast audience.

Although Britain is currently second only to the USA in attracting overseas students, the competition is growing. France, Singapore and Germany are just a few of the countries who have employed strategies to attract potential international students, and with recent and upcoming changes to the UK's student visa policy, it is more important than ever for the UK's higher education institutions to up their stakes in international marketing. The key to their success is to embrace modern technological advances.

University in 2010/11? Apply now for funding, says UCAS

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 16:35:56 +0000

If you are starting your university course this year 2010/11, the advice from UCAS is to get your application for finance in as soon as possible - but definitely before 23 April, if you want to ensure your first payment arrives before the start of term.

After all the delays and worry last year, it really makes sense to apply early - even if you have not been accepted on a course you can still apply, says UCAS - just put your first choice on the finance application and let Student Finance England know if it changes later.

Deadlines are 23 April for those who are applying for 'non means-tested' funding; 25 June for those who are.applying for means-tested finance. There is a single application procedure that covers loans, grants and bursaries.

And if you still haven't got finance for the current year 2009/10 it isn't too late - you can apply up to 9 months after the start of the academic year.

Check out the details on the UCAS website and apply online, plus you can find lots more advice on fees and finance on the Complete University Guide pages.

Because it's worth it - why students should grab the chance of going to university

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 08:51:51 +0000

Worried about top-up fees? Wondering if university is really worth the debts you'll probably run up? Well the message for you is - don't even think about throwing in the towel. As a graduate you will still have an average 157% greater earning power than those who quit studying after A-level, according to figures from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Ian Brinkley, associate director of the Work Foundation, says the 'premium' graduates can earn has remained constant over the past decade and is set to continue, especially in sectors where demand is likely to be high, such as business services, IT, computer services and the creative and cultural sector.

Courses in science, engineering, mathematics or computer-related subjects will attract greater financial returns than humanities or arts degrees, he suggests.

Plus of course, there are wider and long-term benefits - Wes Streeting, president of the National Union of Students, says university brings a network of friends and broader experience. Although graduates are accumulating record levels of debt he believes university is about more than financial reward and in any case they still face a better economic outlook in the long run.

Government bodies, employers, and student unions alike agree that taking a degree is good not only for the student, but for the country as a whole - analyst Andreas Schleicher says improved graduate job prospects have a knock-on effect for the wider economy.

To see what career options look best and what sort of earnings you might expect, look at the Complete University Guide's Prospects pages. For the background to this story see the BBC website.

Fewer students and higher university top-up fees 'vital' to UK prosperity?

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 09:24:31 +0000

The UK's top graduate employers have said that the country's 'prosperity and productivity' depends on a major overhaul of its policies towards universities. The Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR) is calling for a phased increase in student top-up fees and an end to the government's 50% target for participation in higher education.

The AGR says the moves are vital to raising standards, and that the 'artificial' 50% target has devalued degrees.

In its Manifesto for Graduate Recruiters the AGR urged political parties to support the gradual removal of the cap on student top-up fees by 2020 and to help launch a national savings scheme to prepare families for the cost of higher education.

The seven central recommendations are:

1) Abolish the artificial 50 percent target for higher education
2) Introduce the Higher Education Achievement Report to revise degree classification system
3) Lift the cap off student tuition fees and drive up standards
4) Embed employability skills in all degree courses at all institutions
5) Best practice and resources for university and school careers services
6) Introduce tax breaks for employers of graduates
7) Introduce a more flexible visa system for employers

Carl Gilleard, chief executive of the AGR, said: 'These proposals reflect the views of 750 major employers which collectively recruit around 30,000 graduates a year in the UK.

'In our opinion, there has never been a greater need for government, employers and universities to build a shared vision for higher education. I do not believe it is overstating the case to say that the UK's prosperity and productivity are depending on it.'

However, the University and College Union said recent reports from the Royal Society and others revealed the failure of British business to pay its fair share for the benefits it receives from UK higher education.

UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'The future for the UK is at the forefront of a high-skilled knowledge economy and we won't get there with less graduates. ... It is time that business started to make a proper contribution to university funding, instead of parroting its siren calls to increase the debt of students and the burden on hardworking families struggling in tough economic times.'

Full details of the AGR manifesto.

British universities launch in India and Pakistan - Imran Khan leads Bradford move

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:47:49 +0000

Bedfordshire is already there, Lancaster announced its programme last month, and Bradford - led by former cricketer and politician, now chancellor of the university, Imran Khan - has successfully launched degree courses in Pakistan. The three universities are motivated by the enormous potential of the country's young population - 100 million people under the age of 25 - and the ambition to gain an international profile.

At the end of 2009 Bradford University set up seven degree programmes at Pakistan's Namal College, founded by Imran Khan three years ago, to improve employment prospects for locals. 'When I was campaigning during the 2002 elections in Mianwali, I was appalled at the high level of unemployment among the youth,' says Khan. So far, 68 students, including eight women, have enrolled on degree courses in subjects such as mobile computing and web engineering and will be receiving Bradford degrees.

Bedfordshire is running Masters' courses and some undergraduate degrees in partnership with the highly-regarded Comsats Institute of Information Technology in Pakistan, and Lancaster University will be following suit - students at Comsats' Lahore campus can sign up for computing, communications systems and business administration and receive both a Lancaster and a Comsats degree. With 1,000 students now in Kuala Lumpur and another 350 in India, the move 'is part of an attempt to have a diversified set of geographical relationships in countries which we think in the long-term are going to be very important,' says Paul Wellings, the Australian-born vice-chancellor of Lancaster.

It's a huge advantage for British universities to secure a future flow of high-quality postgraduates from abroad. Mark Cleary Vice-Chancellor of Bradford said: 'Long-term I don't think there's so much of a future in trying to keep growing your undergraduate numbers. What we're trying to do here is attract students to the UK for postgraduate programmes.'

Full story by Lucy Hodges in the Independent newspaper. More details of courses for overseas students in the UK can be found on the Complete University Guide's 2010 pages.

Golden reward for language graduates in UK job market

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 09:54:07 +0000

Languages are a key to financial success it seems - a new report featured on the graduate employment website, Milk Round, gives the mean salary of language grads three years after finishing university ahead of those with degrees in engineering, maths, physics, chemistry, and astronomy.

At a time when foreign language teaching is under siege in UK schools and colleges, a leading employment magazine, Personnel Today reports that employers rate language skills as highly important, second only to IT skills.

In a poll of 500 employers, the journal found that job candidates with a second language had the 'x-factor' for 40 per cent of recruiters. French (34 per cent), German (25 per cent), and Spanish (23 per cent) were seen as most useful, with a strong second tier emerging, for Polish (15 per cent), Urdu (12 per cent) and Punjabi (9 per cent).

Dr Lid King, the government's national director for languages commented that the research showed UK employers were demanding candidates with languages and that 'having these skills can really give young people entering the jobs market the edge.'

Full story at the Milk Round website. For details and comparisons of language courses in UK universities, see the subject tables in the Complete University Guide's 2010 League Tables.

Fast-growing success for two-year foundation courses

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 11:15:09 +0000

Universities are being encouraged to offer more foundation degrees, after the take-up for these two-year vocational courses has soared in the past two years. Figures from Foundation Degree Forward (FDF), which promotes employer links with higher education, report that enrolments rose from 27,825 to 99,740 between 2007-9.

Universities secretary Peter Mandelson said that he wanted to see universities offering more of the flexible two-year courses, reflecting the changing nature of university applications - having earlier admitted that it was likely more people would miss out on going to university this year. The FDF say the growing popularity of these shorter degree courses obviously reflects all the hard work put in to meet the needs of employers and students.

Foundation courses are worth two-thirds of an honours degree, and have no formal entry requirements. At the moment, two thirds of the foundation courses on offer are at further education colleges. Some employers (such as Rolls Royce, Balfour Beatty, Tesco and Norwich Union amongst others) offer financial support for employees studying foundation degrees as a work-based learning option - more information on this is available at the Ucas site. For discussion of courses and length of time/entry requirements, the Complete University Guide offers an up-to-date assessment.

Story in detail from the BBC.

New university courses needed for over-50s

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 18:30:39 +0000

UK universities are being encouraged to develop new courses for the growing numbers of 'baby-boomers' now heading towards retirement. A report by Universities UK, the association representing university leaders, says the ageing population is a 'serious challenge' for higher education institutions.

Practical courses such as moving from full-time to self-employment, ageing healthily, human rights and environmental citizenship, are all recommended and in the US there is already a growing demand for courses on gerontology.

Nicola Dandridge, of Universities UK said, 'The idea that people stop making a useful contribution to society when they reach the age of 60 or 65 is outdated. We are facing a situation where older people are living longer and healthier lives and have, as a consequence, a huge amount to contribute. Universities have a significant part to play in harnessing that contribution.

'This report examines the role universities can play in finding fresh ways of adapting and supporting older people. Of course, proposals to support older people into universities must be considered in light of the current funding climate facing the sector. On the other hand, to ignore the potential contribution older people can make to our society and economy is short-sighted.'

Full details of the report on the BBC website.

Overseas students must have 'GCSE-level' English to study in UK

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 10:02:17 +0000

The Home Office has confirmed there will be tougher restrictions on non-EU students who want to study in the UK. The Home Secretary announced that all applicants must have English skills at the level of a GCSE in a foreign language, and that students must be taking a course of more than 6 months if they wish to bring their dependents.

Students taking standard 3-year degree-level courses will be able to bring their dependents and will still be able to work part-time, whereas those undertaking below-degree level courses will only be able to work a maximum of 10 (rather than 20) hours a week.

The UK is the second most popular destination for students from overseas, after the USA. Here in the UK we welcome more than 350,000 international students each year, more than 20 per cent of the world’s share - and that number has increased steadily over the past few years.

For more information on which countries overseas students come from, where and what they choose to study, see the Complete University Guides's latest league tables for 2010.

Student complaints about universities mount up - time to name the worse offenders?

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 11:17:30 +0000

Student ombudsman Rob Behrens believes there should be more openness about universities that are consistently the subject of student complaints. The total number of complaints shot up to 900 last year - a 23 percent increase on the previous year - and are expected to rise even more steeply this year.

The ombudsman scheme has been going for five years now, and though it has been called a 'toothless tiger' by some, because many complaints are rejected and overall compensation levels are low - just £670k in the last five years - Behrens says that a review of 3,000 students gave it a thumbs-up overall, seeing it as independent, producing high-quality decisions and giving good value for its cost of just over £2m a year.

But the respondents also felt that improvements could be made, and an overwhelming 79 per cent of them wanted the names of cricitized universities to be published. The majority of universities view this as likely to be counter-productive and lead to 'league tables of complaints'. The University of Bath said it would amount to 'naming and shaming'.

Behrens is planning to consult further, but says his job is 'not to be popular, but to do things that would add to the credibility of the scheme.'

To check student satisfaction ratings on individual universities, look at the latest Complete University Guide league tables for 2010. And to see a full account of the kind of complaints students make, in Lucy Hodges' full story on the Independent website.

University challenge as funding cuts bite deep

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:49:29 +0000

Figures will be released on 16 March giving details of precise funding cuts for each university. The £500 million worth of cuts will inevitably increase the competition amongst students hoping to gain places next year. Ucas has said that as of late January the number of full-time graduate applicants had gone up by almost 23 per cent compared with 2009 - the fourth year in a row to see a significant increase.

Overseas students account for a good many of the extra numbers, and there is a rise in mature students seeking to beat the unfriendly jobs market. But those who do secure a place also face larger classes and a cut in facilities as universities try to cope with the drop in funds.

The government points out that more people than ever before do now take advantae of a university education - a record 2 million students this year, some 390,000 more than in 1997.

More details from the Independent website.

Students battle to win over MPs as university budgets are hit

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:59:11 +0000

Even as the National Union of Students (NUS) launches its ' Support students or pay the price' campaign, targeting MPs in top university towns, the government has today announced spending cuts of £449 million from the higher education budget. Student places are likely to be reduced by around 6,000 in the next academic year, according to the latest reports from the BBC.

Teaching budgets, research and buildings funding are all affected, with a total cut of around 1.6% on 2009-10 real terms, says the Higher Education Funding Council for England.

Meanwhile the NUS is mobilising the student vote ahead of the general election - threatening that they and their families will vote against candidates who do not support the union's campaign against any increase in fees in England. "Vote for us or pay the price," they warned.

The campaign includes a new student vote website which will offer information about those standing for election in their local area, and highlight whether they have signed up to the NUS Funding our Future Pledge: “I pledge to vote against any increase in fees in the next parliament and to pressure the government to introduce a fairer alternative."

More than 200 MPs and parliamentary candidates have so far signed up, including ex-Health Secretary Frank Dobson, leading backbencher Jon Cruddas, ex-Treasury minister Andrew Smith, former Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy, Lib Dem Shadow Chancellor Vince Cable and ex-President of the Liberal Democrats Simon Hughes.

The top 20 'student battlegrounds' identified by the union are Newcastle, Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Sheffield, Reading, Cambridge, London, Southampton, Bristol, Leeds, Oxford, Durham, Exeter, Norwich, Brighton, Lancaster, Nottingham, Plymouth and Lincoln. More details from the BBC website

Students and universities both benefit from top-up fees, enquiry told

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 10:16:57 +0000

The £1.3 bn universities have received so far in top-up fees has enabled them to improve facilities, invest in staffing and support students, Universities UK said yesterday.

At the first public hearings of the government's review of fees, Lord Browne heard from the vice chancellors' group UUK that the system of top-ups of just £3000 a year per student has brought benefits to both universities and students.

They also claimed that it has not resulted in a lower take-up from students from state schools and poorer backgrounds, contrary to fears expressed by MPs. Students unions say they are worried that the fees might lead to a two-tier system.

But Professor Steve Smith, president of UUK, said: "The report highlights what students in England have begun to get in return for their money up to this point.

"It is an encouraging picture - better facilities, more teaching staff, better support, advice and space for learning and socialising. These benefits are now being felt by current students and staff as well as by universities' wider communities and the economy."

Lord Browne's review continues today and a final report is not due until after the General Election.

More on this report from the BBC website.

Top university begins high-powered courses on the 'big issues'

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 09:15:53 +0000

The London School of Economics already has a worldwide reputation as a powerhouse of Britain's social-science studies. Now its big-name tutors are offering a new set of modules to teach undergraduates more about the major issues of today's world.

Titled LSE100, the new course will tackle questions such as 'Is poverty history?' and 'How should we manage climate change?' - giving students the chance to broaden their horizons and apply their academic knowledge to real-world problems that will face them when they leave. Tutors for the new modules are among the LSE's leading experts, while for the students the work is on top of their chosen courses - students so far seem delighted to be offered this opportunity.

A task force set up to offer ideas for improving the mixture of teaching and research at the university made 43 recommendations, which are now being implemented at a cost of £3 million a year. The aim is to turn out graduates with a high level of skills in both analysis and communication in the wider context of their chosen subject - a more attractive prospect for future employers.

For information on LSE's courses and position in the league tables see the Complete University Guide's latest statistics. More details of the changes at LSE can be found in Lucy Hodges' story in the Independent.

Government pledges to support 'brightest but poorest' students

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 10:16:07 +0000

Gordon Brown is promising to help 130,000 'bright young people' from poorer backbrounds to get to university, after a report by ex-cabinet minister Alan Milburn reavealed that the law, medicine and other professions are still dominated by people from the affluent middle classes. The Prime Minister spoke of a 'structured package of support', beginning in 2012.

Mr Milburn made 88 recommendations, most of which will be implemented by the government. They will set up a new forum to encourage the top professions to find ways of widening their pool of recruits and a national internship system, to offer less advantaged youngsters the chance to gain experience of those professions.

Dr Wendy Piatt, of the prestigious Russell Group of universities, welcomed the report, saying that their institutions were 'constantly seeking to develop the most effective ways of employing real potential.' She added that Russell Group universities already draw on a range of factors in order to identify potential in students, which may not be reflected in traditional qualifications, as well as 'taking into account any barriers the candidate may have faced during their education.'

For fuller details of the plans see story on the BBC website.

Looking for a university course this year? New applicants welcome for March 2010

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 10:09:14 +0000

If you wish you had applied for a university course this year don't despair - a number of universities are welcoming new students who want begin their courses in February or March.

Figures released by Ucas to the Independent newspaper, show that there is already a rise in take-up of second semester opportunities, especially welcome for those who have lost jobs or decided to hold back from entering the current difficult jobs market.

Only some universities so far are offering the chance to make a late start - they include Kingston, London South Bank, Coventry, Buckingham, Oxford Brookes and London Metropolitan - but there appear to be considerable benefits for the university as well as the student. Popular courses can be expanded, less mainline ones kept going. The students may find that in the second semester they get more attention from academic staff, who are often overstretched at the start of the year.

Opportunities are growing - this year London Metropolitan is offering around 900 places for a second semester start in a wide variety of subjects, ranging from dietetics to business and digital media, while London South Bank still has half its nursing training places on offer.

More details of this story in the Independent.

Snow break - Ucas gives a week's grace to university applicants

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 13:56:26 +0000

Due to the extreme weather conditions, Ucas is offering extra time to applicants who still have to get their university applications in. The original deadline of 15 January for receipt of applications has now been extended to Friday, 22 January.

The move recognises that schools and colleges have been closed and individual applicants may have suffered delays and setbacks because of the snow and freezing weather. Still, Ucas is urging that applicants who can get their paperwork in by the original deadline should do so.

For more details see the Complete University Guide pages on Applying, and the Ucas website.

Hottest for fashion? Northumbria University comes to London

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 10:46:41 +0000

Famous for its top-rated fashion courses, Northumbria University will be launching premises in London from next month. The Northumbria school of design is currently based in Newcastle, and has won an international reputation for its fashion degrees and highly-rated fashion students - now it has decided it can go further and faster with a new base just around the corner from the Business Design Centre in trendy Islington.

As well as studying and living in London, furture fashion students will be able to undertake work placement at the capital's top fashion houses, and benefit from a wider base of job opportunities.

Fashion is not Northumbria's only claim to fame. The university has gone from strength to strength in the last two years, and in the most recent Complete University Guide league tables it came 58th out of 114 universities, up from 73rd position the year before. The new Vice Chancellor, Professor Andrew Wathey, has said that he wants to build up Northumbria's reputation for research and over the next 5 years has plans to spend over £17 m hiring the best possible academic staff.

"We advertised 40 new academic posts last spring and we're planning another campaign this academic year," he says. "This is not about pulling in prima donnas who will sit and just do research. It's about really strong academics who will be good teachers and researchers."

For more information on this story and Northumbria university's plans see Lucy Hodges' article in the Independent newspaper, and details of Northumbria's courses and league table results can be found on the Complete University Guide's pages.

Students should keep Facebook entries private when looking for a job

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 10:24:27 +0000

Nearly every student has a Facebook profile - around 98 per cent according to a new survey by graduate recruitment website Milkround. Students much prefer this social network site to others such as MySpace (43 per cent) or Twitter (38 per cent). But the wiser ones have learned to keep the sites private from future employers.

Images of yourself having had a few drinks, or in other compromising situations, are not what employers want to see - and many recruiters do check to see what they can find out about a potential employee. So the 13 per cent who do not currently opt for privacy settings are taking a risk. A few respondents to Milkround's survey said they keep two profiles, one for social networking and the other for job hunting.

See full story on Milkround website.

UK unis more popular with overseas students than their US competitors

Mon, 04 Jan 2010 11:05:27 +0000

In 2010, one in ten of every students in a UK university will come from overseas - a far higher figure than in the USA for example - and in many British universities you can expect to rub shoulders with fellow students from over 100 different countries. Since 2008 numbers show a healthy rise.

To see where students come from, what they choose to study, and which institutions they go for, see the Complete University Guide's latest international league tables for 2010. Demand is especially strong from China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, India, Nigeria and the USA.

There are lots of useful tables and statistics, based on the numbers of overseas students attending each university. You can cross reference with previous years, and also go to the main League Tables and Subject Tables to check how those institutions preferred by overseas students rate on quality.

Work placement funding for cash-strapped students - a little sugar with pre-budget pill

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 09:40:20 +0000

Tough cuts to university sector funding announced in the pre-budget report were offset just a little by news of the Government's plan to give extra help to students from low-income backgrounds who want to do short unpaid internships.

The advantage of on-the-job learning by means of unpaid work placement and internships is well known, but there have been increasing worries that such opportunities are not accessible to many undergraduates whose families cannot afford to support them while they work. Steve Smith, president of Universities UK welcomed this move, despite concerns about the cuts to the university sector as a whole. He said, ' The opportunity for students to get hands-on experience in their chosen fields puts them in a very strong position when they come to apply for jobs after graduation.'

On the Complete University Guide's pages you will find lots of helpful advice about careers and links for work placement and training.

New managers for student loans firm - in time to prevent chaos next year?

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 10:14:39 +0000

Nearing the end of 09/10's first university term there are calls for the resignation of the head of the Student Loans Company (SLC), as many students throughout the country remain without funding.

A report by Professor Sir Deian Hopkin examining the delays found that only 5% of phone calls were answered at the peak of the delays and universities have had to pay out thousands in emergency funds for the students who were unlucky. Failures of equipment, online facilities and lost documents were found to have contributed to the problems - students' letters to the BBC confirm that documentation has been lost, not once but many times and that they have spent many fruitless hours attempting to telephone the SLC.

In response, England's Higher Education Minister David Lammy said there will have to be changes in how the Student Loans Company is managed and the SLC has announced that there will be a 'restructuring' of senior management.

But NUS president, Wes Streeting said, 'Given the catalogue of failures identified by this report, heads must roll if the public are to have any confidence in the SLC in the future.' Concerns about next year's cycle of applications were also raised by Pam Tatlow, chair of the Million+ group of new universities.

Full story and letters from individual students on the BBC website.

Donation means £4 million payout for maths and science students at top universities

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 18:39:36 +0000

Up to 4,000 students at the UK's top universities will benefit from a £3 million donation from an Iraqi exile. Government matching will top the fund up to £4 million, so the students, many from poorer backgrounds, will receive scholarships worth £1000, to assist them to study science and math-based courses.

Dr Naim Dangoor, a Jewish Iraqi, came to Britain from Iraq in the 1960s. He is now a highly successful property magnate, and is making the donation to show his gratitude to his host country. The scholarships will be administered by the Russell Group of universities, and the 1994 group.

Dr Wendy Piatt, Director General of the Russell Group, said: 'We hope more people will be prompted to consider studying science and maths-based subjects at the UK's leading universities.

'Although there has been a welcome increase in science and maths students in recent years, we have been deeply concerned by the long term decline in students taking these subjects at A-level and beyond.

'Schemes like the Eliahou Dangoor scholarship build on this upturn in popularity which, in the long run, will mean that the UK can continue to be home to more than its fair share of the world's top scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs.'

Full story on the Independent website, and details of funding and finance for students on the Complete University Guide's pages.

Engineering students from around the world drawn to UK universities

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 10:10:04 +0000

Engineering courses at British universities are climbing steadily as one of the favourite study areas for international students - numbers have increased from around 16,000 in 2008 to 19,000 plus in 2010.

In 2010, as in the current year, Imperial College London will top the table for attracting overseas students in four areas of engineering study - Aeronautical and Manufacturing, Chemical, Electrical, and Mechanical - and it is also in the top three for Civil Engineering. In General Engineering Coventry will again attract the most students, over 350 this year and last, followed by Oxford and Cambridge.

Other institutions consistently in the top 3 or 4 are Kingston, Nottingham, and Bradford.

Demand around the world for trained engineers is rising in many areas of business, developing green technologies and finding solutions to pressing world problems. UK universities and the UK's Engineering Council recently held a conference to improve its collaboration with universities, to protect the quality of courses and encourage a continuing dialogue between universities and the professional engineering institutions.

For fuller details on which courses overseas students take and where, see the Complete University Guide's new league tables for 2010.

Top-name companies offer career paths to Chinese and Asian students

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 09:50:07 +0000

Training in the UK and the prospect of a future career, are currently on offer to Chinese and other Asian students through a number of graduate schemes. Top names such as KPMG, Rolls Royce, ICI, Tesco and Ernst and Young are just a few of the companies offering such opportunities, many featuring extensive international travel.

Companies are keen to hire Asian and other overseas students in the UK as part of their international graduate training programmes. These allow graduates to train in the UK offices for one to three years, and then relocate to the organisation's offices in their home countries. The length of time spent in the UK varies between companies, according to the needs of their business.

Details of many such schemes can be found on the websites of individual universities such as Manchester, reflecting the growing percentage of international student intake.

Chinese and Asian students make up by far the majority of visiting students to the UK - see the new league table of where students come from, on the Complete University Guide's tables for 2010.

American students choose UK in ever greater numbers

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 10:42:00 +0000

With more and more Americans choosing to study abroad, the UK once again came out as their top destination this year - a total of 33,333 US students visiting in 2009 is 2 per cent up on the previous year, according to a report from the Institute for International Education (IEE).

This is including short and medium-term programmes at all levels. For full-time university courses the figure for 09, according to the Complete University Guide's league tables, is just over 3,000 US students, and will be almost 4,000 in 2010.

New York University remains the leading institution for sending students abroad, and three favourite subject areas for study are social sciences, business and management, and the humanities.

“US students who choose to study in the UK reap a wide variety of benefits,” said Sharon Memis, director of the British Council USA. “They get to experience a diverse culture, attend universities with high standards and select from a variety of college programs. At the same time, they can enjoy learning in a common language and easily travel to other European countries.”

For full details of which countries international visiting students will come from next year, see the 2010 tables on the Complete University Guide. The IEE report gives further breakdown of how US nationals study abroad.

Strong international pull of British universities

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 11:10:45 +0000

In recent years the number of non-EU students who are choosing to attend British universities has almost doubled, according to a report by Universities UK. New league tables for 2010 confirm that at some institutions a very high percentage of the students are from overseas - the London School of Economics, for example has a figure of 45%, and Imperial College has 35%.

Others in the top bracket for international intake are:

University of the Arts London 28%

Lampeter 27%

Essex 25%

Royal Holloway 25%

School for Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) 25%.

And at least seven other universities in the UK will take at least a fifth of their students from overseas next year. Oxford and Cambridge take only 11 and 13% but their worldwide reputation for excellence in both teaching and research is believed to be a factor in the success of British universities as a whole.

For lots more information on international students coming to study in the UK, what subjects they choose and where they study, as well as pages showing visa requirements and advice on finance and accommodation, see the Complete University Guide's new league tables for 2010.