The bank of mum may not be able to fund postgrad degrees

(62 Posts)
funnyperson Mon 21-Jan-13 15:10:29

I read this article about postgrad degrees in Oxford and my worst fears are confirmed

amillionyears Sun 27-Jan-13 07:41:18

That first sentence is true mathanxiety. The person I am talking about upthread, is surrounded by students from abroad.
Didnt quite understand the second sentence.

amillionyears Sun 27-Jan-13 07:41:50

Mainly European students I think.

True, math.

funnyperson Tue 29-Jan-13 04:14:17

Exporting expertise is a national strategy. There are at least 2 problems with the strategy

a) It bankrupts foreign families
b) It drives up the price of education, and the support structure such as student accommodation, to beyond the reach of the average earning UK family.

Whilst a) is perfectly consistent with a colonialist ethic, b) was not foreseen simply because no one in Westminster has average earnings.

I'm cross with a and b actually.

funnyperson Tue 29-Jan-13 04:20:07

Postgraduate education is pricing itself out of the market.

I'm cross cross cross because inevitably postgraduate degrees will become the privilege of the wealthy and whilst some wealthy people are brainy not all brainy people are wealthy.

funnyperson Tue 29-Jan-13 04:24:34

I'm cross because I was lucky enough to be born in a socialist society which provided care and opportunity to an extent which I now realise will never again happen in the history of mankind.
Our generation should have fought tooth and nail for our children's education and welfare. But like most I thought it would last forever and did nothing. I feel so much to blame.

mathanxiety Tue 29-Jan-13 05:50:46

What I mean by brain drains being expensive to the exporting country is that the govt is being penny wise by cutting support to postgrad students and pretty much forcing universities to recruit full whack fee payers from abroad, and pound foolish because those foreign PhDs will take their expertise with them and their education will ultimately benefit Britain's competition. Bringing in brains from abroad and then letting them off to make money elsewhere is going to cost Britain.

TheCollieDog Tue 29-Jan-13 08:06:33

Thing is, the price charged to non-EU students, both UG and PG is generally a more accurate reflection of the real costs of a university degree.

Since the [unprintable word] coalition decided to withdraw 80% of public funding from public universities, we're seeing real costs.

I don't see how you are to blame, funny!

funnyperson Tue 29-Jan-13 16:43:09

LRD because a) I didnt save up enough to put DC through college without debt and b) didnt protest when the govt introduced the extortionate fees.

mathanxiety Tue 29-Jan-13 18:39:54

One potentially hopeful element to the postgrad scene is Britain's continuing membership of the EU. British students are entitled to study anywhere in the EU for local rates, both at undergraduate level and postgrad.

Hint - vote possibly coming up on EU membership..

Please don't blame yourself, funny. I am really furious about what is happening but I don't think it's the fault of ordinary people, really. As far as I can see, there was no-one making a huge fuss about students getting their degrees subsidized, so it's not as if tuition fees were a hugely popular move.

I can see it must feel rotten to be worrying about your DC like that, of course.

Join the discussion

Join the discussion


Register now