Higher Education Funding
Prospective students, or anyone looking for an explanation of how funding works in Cambridge, bursaries and the costs of studying for a degree, should go to fees and funding.
The HE funding debate is one that provokes a lot of different reactions within the student body and the country more generally. Many people (quite rightly) have impassioned views on either side of the political spectrum, from those demanding the abolition of fees and re-introduction of grants to those endorsing the current system and favouring moves to American style funding. CUSU (decided by JCR/MCR presidents and external officers, some faculty reps and the CUSU executive) has taken a principled stance against tuition fees, and retains support for their abolition. Leading into the 2009 review of tuition fees, though, our key priority is to ensure that the cap is not lifted, that Cambridge does not become any more expensive than other universities and that prospective students' decisions on whether to study or which institution or course are not influenced by cost.
Where does CUSU stand?
So: what does CUSU believe, and what can we do? CUSU believes that it is fundamental that any funding system should be free at point of entry and that financial incentives should not determine a student's educational choices. We have serious concerns that Cambridge would struggle to attract students from low socio-economic groups or with no family or school tradition of university, should cost act as a factor in a prospective student's decision making process. Whilst we are strongly in favour of a comprehensive bursary system (both nationally and within individual institutions), we have worries that the promise of a bursary cannot offset the risk associated with paying higher fees. We acknowledge that there is a shortfall in university funding, but feel strongly that this should not be met by students and that the University must diversify its funding sources.
What can we do?
What we can do seems to be as controversial as what we should say. People's confidence in the ability of the student movement to influence government legislation and University policy varies as much as their views on fees. Some students would opt for protests and public demonstrations, others put more value on reports, submissions and meetings with officials. In the build-up to the 2009 review on fees, CUSU will be employing a variety of methods, aiming to foster links, engage students and, ultimately, to influence governments, think tanks and the University.
There will be a number of events for students to get involved with, from high-profile speaker events to student activism meetings; liaison with the NUS to co-ordination with teaching unions; submission of reports to DIUS to vocalizing our policy on University committees; petitions pushing the University not to come out in favour of fees to fighting the fear of debt amongst prospective students.
This website will be updated with dates, events and information about national campaigns. There will be plenty of opportunity for students to attend events, express their opinions and help to structure CUSU's responses.