10% Fees Hike for International Students in the UK

This is something fresh and off the table. The hike by 10.2% of fees for the students in the coming year of 2019-20 for Oxford is set to make its way for a number of courses including Mathematics, Physics and History.

This hike was done after a piece of advice that was presented by the body named as, Joint Fees and Student Support Advisory Group of universities, colleges and schools to remove this unnecessary hike, was overruled. This increment was done and will be done only for students who’ll be incoming to study in the UK.

The body that opposed this increment presented their opposition via a meeting on the 5^th of June. But this request was denied by the Chairperson of the group, and a proposal and cover letter mentioning the increment of 10% was sent to the Planning & Resource Allocation Committee.

As was mentioned by an individual who was representing the Oxford SU, they tried their best to act as a strong opposition since they weren’t willing to let go or give any reasons for the good students to opt out of the colleges of UK, but it was without vain since the opposition was of no good. The 10% increment still stayed affirmative.

The source also went out to say that even after the increment was opposed, it was sent out to the Planning & Resource Allocation Committee where it was again opposed by the SU President, after which it was sent to University Council in 12th Week Trinity Term 2018, where the consequences and the risks were all put forward. But even then the hike was put into effect.

This hike also was seen after the government’s Augar Report was put out, which mentioned the reduction for the degree of domestic student, an increased length for a government loan and as well as the re-establishment of the maintenance grants.

After some specified calculations and considerations, a considerable hike was seen for PTE, Mathematics and Physics, the likes of which have not been seen before. The courses that just won’t be affected are, Geography, Human Sciences, and Theology.

Due to the government’s regulations of exempting the home students of the university charges, the overseas student course fees have considerably risen since the year 2014, also with inflammation being a crucial reason for it. And like all universities in the UK, Oxford as well charges two types of student fee structures, one for the home rate and the other being the overseas rate, where the distinction of a specific student for the specific category is done by the government.

Also, as stated by a source, fee structure for every course is reviewed each year and it is based upon the different factors and their surrounding costs including the hike, the inflammation the government grant.

As said by He Liu, Chair of International Students’ Campaign, the bright students who aren’t that well off is actually facing a huge set back because of this steady hike and the decision made for the hike. This acts as a constant obstacle for such students as all the students from every nationality and place from around the world must be respected and accounted for and not just the home students.