20 July 2011
Education, Sport and Culture (ESC) officers have negotiated a reduction in university tuition fees for the next academic year – but further talks will be needed with UK universities to set the charges from September 2012.
In the short term there is good news for Jersey students. Tuition fees will be up to 7% cheaper for those who go to a UK university in September 2011 – and maintenance grants will increase at the same time.
The new fee levels have been negotiated by ESC officers who have been working with their counterparts in Guernsey and the Isle of Man to reach a deal with Universities UK, the body that represents universities and sets tuition fees.
The exact level of the saving will depend on the course and university, but on average a family who paid the full tuition fees last year could be up to £660 better off in the next academic year.
However, there is still uncertainty in the UK over the level of university funding and tuition fees from September 2012. This means more negotiations will be needed to set Channel Islands' students’ fees for the future.
“Details of how the new UK system will function after 2012 have not been finalised but the current ambiguity gave us an opportunity to renegotiate what Jersey students have to pay in 2011” explained David Greenwood, ESC’s Assistant Director for Culture and Lifelong Learning.
“The situation will change again for September 2012 and we will have further discussions this summer to set the fees for that academic year. It is a complex situation but in the meantime we have secured the best possible outcome for Jersey students.”
ESC Minister Deputy James Reed said “This is excellent news for students and families. Credit must go to the ESC negotiating team who led discussions in London in March and have been able to deliver a saving for families and the States. We will continue to make every effort to obtain the best deal we can for parents and students in the years ahead.”
Alongside the reduction in tuition fees for September 2011, there will be a 2% increase in the maintenance grant paid by the States. This means a student who receives the full grant will be eligible for a payment of £5,200 for the year.
gov.je