STRATEGIC PLANNING AND POLICY TEAM
AQSO
Factors to consider when setting/re-assessing
Postgraduate tuition fees
- New Course proposals
When proposing a fee for a new curriculum proposal at Postgraduate level, there are a number of areas to consider, both internal and external to our University.
1.1Using existing tuition fee frameworks as a guide
(Refer to Appendix A below)
Postgraduate Fee structure (FT and PT)
Governors approve a fee schedule on a yearly basis for a spinepoint fee structure along with any relevant increases. You should refer to this to see the range of fee bands as a guide to setting fees. You should also refer to the current course tuition fee listing in order that you can see similar course tuition fees.
Different fees for Home/EU and Non EU (International) students
Fees for Non EU (International) students are set at a different rate to those for ‘Home’ and ‘EU’ domiciled students, as HEFCE funding (supplementary to the tuition fee income) is not received for these students. There are separate fees on the PG schedule for Non EU students for both taught and research programmes.
Different fees for D/L courses
Tuition fees for Distance Learning courses are often set at a lower amount than those for taught face-to-face programmes. Hence there are separate fees for programmes taught in these medium.
Therefore it is possible that there may be more than one tuition fee for a particular postgraduate course and could include any combination of the following:
Taught courses:
Home/EU FT
Home/EU PT
Non EU FT
Home/EU FT or PT Distance Learning
Non EU FT or PT Distance Learning
Research:
Home/EU FT MPhil/PhD
Home/EU PT MPhil/PhD OR Professional Doctorate
Non EU FT MPhil/PhD
1.2Internal resource analysis
Although it is very difficult to fully ‘value’ the true cost of the delivery of a new programme, there are many factors that should be considered when setting the tuition fee, expressed below as both direct and indirect costs, as well as direct and indirect time and staffing requirements:
Resources required prior to commencement of delivery:
- Planning (Initial research and analysis)
- Validation process (and events to fully approve delivery)
- Marketing and recruitment (Home/EU and Non EU costs)
Resources required to enable the programme to run:
- Capital requirements (i.e.: new equipment/space)
- New staffing requirements (or re-allocation of existing staff)
- Student services requirements (i.e.: catering facilities/student support services/janitorial services)
- Library resources
1.3Internal feasibility of the proposal
There may be some experience/examples of programmes that have previously run and been withdrawn that are similar to the programme being proposed and therefore the tuition fee may need to be set to reflect this.
For example, is the programme likely to attract large numbers of students? If so, perhaps a fee could be set on the lower range of the fee spine-point to reflect a mass market appeal. If the programme has a very specialist nature and is expected to recruit low numbers to start with (but meets a specific requirement need/demand) then the fee could possibly be set higher to reflect this.
1.4External factors to consider
There may be a number of comparator institutions who also run the programme being proposed and therefore comparisons with tuition fees can be easily undertaken and tuition fees set accordingly. A list of some of the key postgraduate courses and their tuition fees can be found inAppendix B(please see below) in order that tuition fees can be set accordingly. This list will be updated on an annual basis.
Tuition fees can also be used to penetrate the market. For example, if there are very few institutions who offer the programme being proposed, or the programme is being delivered through a demand –lead/ contract basis, then these may also be influencing factors for the tuition fee.
It should also be noted that for some students, notably for the Non EU (International) market, league table positioning and fee levels can act as a proxy marker for reputation of the institution and the quality of the course. If a course is priced too cheaply it may indicate to such a market that reputation and/or quality of the course is poor. Conversely, the fee level must represent value for money in the wider context as the UK is perceived to be a reasonably expensive country in which to live/study.
- Re-assessing Tuition fee levels
2.1Impact of annual tuition fee rises
Tuition fees are increased on an annual basis to reflect the rise in costs of delivery of the programme (usually based on an inflationary rise). Typically rises have been in the region of 3-5% for Home/EU students, 5-10% for Non EU students and 10-15% for Distance Learning courses. When looking at whether to increase or decrease the programme fee for taught Postgraduate courses, (i.e.: change the banding upwards or downwards) an initial assessment should be undertaken as to the impact on both the new and continuing students, along with the impact on the income to the faculty of the proposed annual increase and whether this would suffice in resolving any issues regarding tuition fee income.
2.2Recruitment levels
It is useful to consider recruitment levels for programmes to assess whether or not recruitment is reaching the numbers that were originally considered acceptable for the viability and success of a programme. If recruitment levels are lower over a long period than anticipated then tuition fees may be one reason why this may be so; demand, market factors, location, reputation may also be other factors. Decreasing the tuition fee may be a short term solution to resolving this, although other factors clearly need to be considered in order than adequate income continues to be generated from the programme to cover its costs.
Conversely if recruitment is exceeding expectations, it may be possible to penetrate the market further and increase tuition fees to reflect the popularity (and possible niche value) of the course. Again, other factors should be considered if this strategy is to be adopted, such as the effect that this would have on employers/sponsors and the students themselves.
2.3Competitor Analysis
It is advisable to re-assess the level of tuition fees that competitor institutions are charging for comparable programmes on an annual basis. A list of some of the key postgraduate courses and their tuition fees can be found at: Appendix B(below) in order that tuition fees can be re-assessed accordingly.
If you need further help with setting or revising tuition fee levels, please contact Dawn Hopper, Strategic Planning and Policy Unit in AQSO, by email: or extension 4879.
Appendix A
SCHEDULE OF APPROVED FEES FOR 2008/9
Section 1Home and EU fees
2008/9 Fee increase: Flat 5% increase on all 2007/8 fees (rounded to the nearest £25)
1.1 UG Full-time
Fees for eligible UK and EU students are set by DfES and applied nationally.
Fees for Islands Students are set by DFES and applied nationally (via an agreement with Universities UK that HEIs will not exceed the maximum fee rate). The fees are set at an agreed full cost rate as the Islands authorities make no contribution to the UK Exchequer.
1.2UG Part-time
Fees for this category of student will be linked, pro rata, to the full-time fee rate.
1.3PG (Taught) Full-time
2007/82008/9
Band K£ 1475£1550
Band L£ 2950£3200
Band PGCE(FoE only)£3070£3140
Band M£ 3675£4000
Band N£ 4725£5000
Band P£ 6300£6700
Band Q£ 7350£7800
Band R£11025£11500
1.4 PG (Taught) Part-time
2007/82008/9
Band S£ 750£775
Band T£ 1475£1600
Band U£ 1575£1675
Band V£ 1850£2000
Band W£ 2375£2500
Band X£ 3150£3350
Band Y£ 3675£3900
1.5 PG (Research) Full-time
2007/82008/9
MPhil/PhD (33 months minimum)£ 3675£4000
Writing up fee£400
Research Students also pay Examination Fees as follows:
2007/82008/9 Research Diploma £175 £200
1.6 PG (Research) Part-time
2007/82008/9
MPhil/PhD (45 months minimum)£1850£2000
PhD by Published Work
Initial Registration£ 900£950
Full Registration£ 2475£2600
Writing up fee£400
Professional Doctorates
EdD£ 3325£1700
DBA£ 7725£8125
ProfDoc Health and Social Care£ 3325£1700
ProfDoc Built Environment£ 3325£1700
ProfDoc Pastoral Theology£1650£1700
Writing up fee£400
Research Diploma£600£650
Research Students also pay Examination Fees as follows:
2007/82008/9 Research Diploma £175 £200
All other degrees£500£525
1.7 Non-award bearing programmes2007/82008/9
Study Abroad Programme (One Semester)£900£950
Section 2Non EU International Fees
Fees for Non EU international students have been increased by 10%, of which 5% is to cover direct inflationary costs and 5% to accommodate any discounted fees (through scholarships/bursaries/group discounts) that the student may receive.
2.1UG Full-time
2007/82008/9
Classroom based£ 8450 £9300
Laboratory based£ 9925 £10925
Optometry£10950£12050
Nursing/Teacher Education with placement£14650£16125
Online BA LTR£6000£6675
2.2UG Part-time
FT fees pro rata (visa restrictions apply)
2.3 PG (Taught) Full-time
2007/82008/9
Postgraduate Programmes
MA (classroom based)£ 8725£9300
PG Diploma (classroom based)£ 5800£6400
MSc (laboratory based)£ 9925£10925
PG Diploma (laboratory based)£ 6600£7275
MBA£10975 £12075
Conversion/Professional Courses
PGCE£ 8725£9300
Common Professional Exam£ 8725£9300
Legal Practice Course£ 8725£9300
LLM Legal Practice Course (top-up)£ 3200£3525
2.4PG (Taught) Part-time
FT fees pro rata (visa restrictions apply)
2.5PG (Research) Full-time
2007/82008/9
Full time MPhil/PhD (33 months minimum)
Lab Based£ 9300£10250 Classroom Based £ 8575 £9450
2.6PG (Research) Part-time (visa restrictions apply)
2007/82008/9
Part time MPhil/PhD (45 month minimum)
Lab Based£4650£5125
Classroom Based£4300£4750
Research Students also pay Examination Fees as follows:
2007/82008/9
Other degrees (excluding Research Diploma)£500£525
2.7Non-award bearing programmes
2007/82008/9
International Foundation Programme
(pre-undergraduate level)£ 7100£7825
One-semester programme£ 3525£3880
Masters Foundation Programme£ 7100£7825
One-semester programme£ 3525£3880
Study Abroad Programme for visiting students£ 7100£7825
One semester programme £ 3525£3800
Section 3Distance Learning Fees
Home and EU fees 2008/9 increase: Flat 15% increase has been applied to all 2007/8 fees (rounded to the nearest £25)
3.1Home and EU Full time
2007/82008/9
LLM International Sports Law£4725£5450
3.2Home and EU Part time
2007/82008/9
BA Learning, Teaching and Research£1550£1800
BSc (Hons) Radiography£1325£1525
BSc (Hons) Health Studies£1325£1525
LLM International Sports Law£2375£2750
MSc Forensic Science for Practitioners£1480£1725
MSc Biomedical Science£1850£2150
MSc Medical Imaging £1660£1950
MSc Computed Tomography£1660£1950
MSc Radiography£1660£1950
MSc Medical Ultrasound£1660£1950
Non EU International fees 2008/9: Flat 15% increase has been applied to all 2007/8 fees (rounded to the nearest £25)
3.3Non EU International Full time
2007/82008/9
BA Learning, Teaching and Research£6000£6900
LLM International Sports Law£8725£10050
3.4Non EU International Part time
2007/82008/9
BSc (Hons) Radiography£1650£1900
BSc (Hons) Health Studies£1650£1900
MSc Forensic Science for Practitioners£1680£1950
MSc Biomedical Science£2050£2375
MSc Medical Imaging£1760£2050
MSc Computed Tomography£1760£2050
MSc Radiography£1760£2050
MSc Medical Ultrasound£1760£2050
Section 4EFL/Language course fees
EU and Non EU International fees 2008/9: a 10% increase (on 2007/8 levels) will apply to all fees.
4.1EU and Non EU International Full time
2007/82008/9
One Year course (3 x 10 week courses)£6600£7275
One Semester course (10 week course)£2400£2650
One Semester course (5 week course)£1200£1325
4.2EU and Non EU International Part time
2007/82008/9
One Semester course (10 weeks @ 4 hours per week)£450£500
One Semester course (10 weeks @ 3 hours per week)£340£375
One Semester course (British Culture lectures)£220£250
4.3Home/EU ALP Link part time
2007/82008/9
15 credit language module£200
Appendix B Tuition Fees Comparison 2007/08 EntryFull-time Postgraduate UK/EU Fees
Taught Courses - MBA, MA, MSc, LLM, Postgraduate Diploma
MBA / Management Studies / Accounting & Financial Analysis / HRM / Marketing / Computer Science / English / Social Work / LPC / CPE / LLM
AngliaRuskinUniversity / £10,500 / N/A / £4,500 / £4,500 / N/A / £4,500 / £3,500 / £3,162 / £7,000 / £4,700 / £4,500
De Montfort University / N/A / N/O / N/A / N/A / N/A / N/A / N/A / N/O / £6,750 / £3,950 / £3,950
University of East Anglia / £13,500 * / N/O / £4,950 / £4,950 / £4,950 / £3,240 / £4,100** / N/A / N/O / N/O / N/A
University of Greenwich / £9,600 / N/A / £7,200 / £4,630 / £7,200 / £3,600 / £3,600 / N/O / N/O / N/O / N/A
KingstonUniversity / £15,500 / N/O / £6,200 / £8,000 / £6,200 / N/O / £3,500** / N/A / N/O / N/O / £5,500
OxfordBrookesUniversity / £15,590 / N/O / £9,060 / £9,060 / £9,060 / £3,940 / £3,750 / N/O / £15,030 / £6,080 / £6,250
University of Plymouth / £8,000 / N/O / £5,000 / N/O / N/O / £3,950 / £3,950 / £3,950 / £7,250 / N/O / £8,900
WestminsterUniversity / £14,500 / £6,250 / £11,450 / £9,350 / £11,450 / £3,650 / £3,650 / N/O / £8,500 / £4,700 / £3,650
£15,500- / Insufficient / £4,950- / No / No / £3,600- / £3,600- / Insufficient / £6,750- / £3,950- / £3,650-
Median Tuition Fees / £15,590 / Fees / £5,000 / Median / Median / £3,950 / £3,650 / Fees / £7,250 / £4,700 / £3,950
Available / Available
*Fee for January start 2008 entry only
** MA Creative Writing
N/A: Course offered, tuition fees currently not available
N/O: Course not offered
Blue text: Currently tuition fees only available for 2006/07 entry
NOTE: Other competitor universities currently only listing tuition fees for 2006/07 entry are: Essex, Hertfordshire,Lincoln and Portsmouth (therefore not listed)