► Higher Education

This area deals with our role in Higher Education. For example, ensuring student's views are heard and considerated and that feedback on exams and pieces of work are clear and fair.

For 2010-11 we have looked at the impending costs of Higher Education and have focussed on addressing the hidden course costs at Liverpool.

Hidden Course Costs*
*any cost a student is expected to pay for the successful completion of their course that is in addition to their tuition fee

Summary & Recommendations

This paper outlines LGoS' beliefs regarding hidden course costs, their current unfairness and the complete inappropriateness of them in the future. Even with the current fee level it is reasonable to expect that the majority of course costs should be included in the tuition fee. With the introduction of fees of up to £9,000 this expectation will rise. This is even truer for our increasing cohort of international students, paying uncapped amounts of fees to study here. If the University does not include costs such as core text books, lab equipment and compulsory field trips they risk being left behind by their competitors.

LGoS recommends:

• That the University should make all hidden course costs clear, transparent and understandable for all prospective students and to all current students making module choices.

• That the University should include all reasonable costs, such as (though not exclusive to) core text books, printing costs, general equipment and short field trips (i.e. any located in the UK or Europe) in its tuition fee.

• That any longer distance field trips or substantial course costs should be heavily subsidised by the University, and relevant means testing should take place.

• Where the University charges for additional services or resources (e.g. exceeding a print limit), students should be charged at costs price, not at a profit.

Main report

The decision to attend University is no small one, especially since the last increase in fees. Many students have to carefully consider their financial situation and whether they can afford to attend, and even those who don't still need to budget their finances carefully. To be able to effectively budget, students must have a clear understanding of their incomings and outgoings. While the University currently advertises the price of its tuition fee, it does not specify what is included in that cost. From text books and printing costs, to bench fees and field trips, students are frequently required to pay for unplanned outgoings. This can often have a detrimental effect on a student's finances and their ability to continue a module, programme or University. As shown by the NUS Student Experience Report 2008, additional costs can have a significant impact - especially as these costs often come at the same time, which is usually at the start of term, when other costs such as rent and travel back to University strain the student purse.

The impact of this could be reduced if students are able to take costs into consideration before they start studying. Including all costs in the tuition fees would ensure no students choose their module, programme or University based on their ability to pay additional costs rather than their ability to achieve.

What we want to from you:

We are looking for information on your experiences and views on hidden course costs...
• What are your hidden course costs?
• Have your hidden costs ever made you choose another module or course or consider dropping out?
• What you would like to know about extra costs & when?
• Examples of where a department does something good

Contact Us

What do you think of our approach to course costs?

The Guild

Hello and welcome to Liverpool Guild of Students!

As a University of Liverpool student, you are automatically one of over 17000 members of the Guild. We are run by 4 elected students, who are supported by staff and volunteers.

The Guild aims to make students lives better, through campaigning with you to make positive change and providing you with a huge range of opportunities to meet other people, gain new skills and have fun.