HC Deb 05 March 1980 vol 980 cc187-8W
Mr. Lang

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what fees he proposes to charge overseas students at institutions in Scotland, other than universities, for the academic year 1980–81; and what arrangements he proposes to assist overseas students who are suffering hardship as a result of fee increases in the present session.

Mr. Younger

For full-time overseas students beginning advanced courses in the central institutions and colleges of education at or after the start of the autumn term 1980, the following fees will apply for the academic year 1980–81—

£
Courses which involve a substantial element of tuition in laboratories, studios, workshops etc. 3,000
Other (classroom-based) courses 2,000

I am asking the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities whether it will agree to recommend similar fees in respect of advanced courses in education authority colleges. I am also seeking the convention's guidance on the appropriate levels of fees for non-advanced courses in colleges of further education.

I am not recommending a fee for new overseas students on postgraduate courses, but institutions will be expected to charge a fee which covers the full cost of tuition. Where courses are run entirely for overseas students, with no home students taking part, institutions will be free to charge whatever fee is necessary to cover tuition costs subject to a minimum (for full-time advanced courses) of £2,000. Students who either—

  1. (a) enjoy the benefit of Article 12 of EEC Regulations 1612/68 (children of migrant workers); or
  2. (b) are participating in an exchange with an institution outside the United Kingdom on a fully reciprocal basis,
will be charged the fee appropriate to home students.

The fees for home students, and for overseas students who have begun their courses before the start of the autumn term of session 1980–81 will be as follows—

£
Postgraduate
Home 1,105
Overseas 1,525
Undergraduate and equivalent
Home 740
Overseas 1,165
Full-time non-advanced
Overseas 645

These amounts are intended to maintain fee levels in real terms.

As regards assistance to overseas students who are suffering hardship in the present academic session as a result of fee increases already in force, my Department is writing to central institutions and colleges of education offering to consider adjustments to recurrent grant where an institution proposes to remit fees on grounds of hardship. The Department has also been in touch with COSLA about appropriate arrangements for students in colleges of further education.

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