Students 'face fees increase if cap is lifted'

An analysis of fees paid by international students reveals home students are likely to face a massive hike in costs if institutions are allowed to set their own course fees.

It warns that such a move could put poorer students off certain university degree courses, leaving them as the preserve of the rich.

The study, commissioned by the Sutton Trust, examined fees paid by students from outside the EU.

It found that in 2009/10, on average, undergraduate international students paid just under 9,350 for a non-laboratory based course, such as humanities, and 10,900 for a lab-based subject such as science. These fees have risen, on average, by 30 and 40 per cent respectively since 2002/03.

International students attending England’s elite universities pay more, with some courses charging more than 20,000 per year.

Fees for UK and EU students are capped at 3,290 for this academic year.

It means that fees for international undergraduate students have risen to between three and five times the amount currently paid by home students, with wide variation between institutions and courses. The report raises concerns that this could be the effect on fees for home students if the cap is lifted.

It says: “Given the patterns for overseas students and postgraduate courses, we would see undergraduate fees or charges rapidly increase, particularly for those universities with the highest academic reputations, and particularly for degree courses with the highest financial returns.

“There are obvious concerns that such large variations might deter students from less privileged backgrounds from embarking on particular degree courses.”

The warning comes just weeks before Lord Browne’s review into student funding, which could pave the way for higher fees, is due to be published.

The study also reveals that the growth in international students in the last 15 years far outstrips that for home students, and predicts that based on current trends, non-EU students could make up one in 10 of all undergraduates by 2015.

It raises concerns that if universities cannot raise more income from home students in the future, then they will focus on recruiting more students from overseas. This has the potential to cut off places for UK students, which could have an impact on recruiting poorer UK students to higher education.