University of Gloucestershire to charge £8,250 fee

The University of Gloucestershire has announced plans to charge students £8,250 per year in tuition fees.

Both UK and EU undergraduates starting their studies at the university from 2012 will be charged.

Dr Paul Hartley, the university's vice-chancellor, said the fee was agreed following market research and was "both sustainable and affordable".

Cassie Agbehenu, from the university's Students' Union said the fees would "massively put people off" going there.

The university will be supporting bursaries for students from low-income households.

'Changing needs'

Universities across England are introducing tuition fees of between £6,000 and £9,000 to cope with cuts in government funding.

Dr Hartley said: "The proposed fees structure will allow Gloucestershire to continue its significant investment in widening participation and we are equally committed to investing in our student experience, teaching and learning and employability.

"We have an established tradition of providing education, training and support to generations of students from a wide variety of backgrounds and we have developed this in line with the changing needs of our local community and economy.

"We agreed this fee following extensive market research and we consider this to be both sustainable and affordable."

The proposals are subject to approval by the Office for Fair Access.

'Severely dashed'

Ms Agbehenu, education and welfare officer at the Students' Union, said she understood why the level of fees was so high but it could affect where people choose to study.

"I completely understand [the university's] position in terms of the majority of their funding being completely slashed away, but I definitely think it will play a role in the way students choose their university," she said.

"I think it will massively put people off. I know it would have put me off. My hopes of going to university would have been severely dashed.

"It's the students' right to demand a high level of academic provision, a high level of student experience and a high level of care from the university. The fees they will be paying mean they have the right to demand such things."