Foreign Students (Hansard, 26 January 1998)

§ Mr. Vaz
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the Government's policy in respect of the charging of university fees to students from developing countries. [23184]

§ Dr. Howells
The Education (Fees and Awards) Regulations 1997 allow universities to differentiate between students for the purpose of fee charging. They are permitted to charge higher fees to students who do not fulfil the conditions described in the Schedule to the Regulations than to students who do fulfil the conditions. No special statutory provision is made for students from developing countries to be charged fees at the lower rate.
The British Government and other United Kingdom organisations provide a number of scholarships and awards to help international students to study in the UK. The main schemes are described in a booklet produced in 1997 by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UKCOSA (The Council for International Education) and The British Council called, "Studying in the UK, Sources of funding for international students" a copy of which has been placed in the Library. In particular, the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan, funded by the Department for International Development (DfID) and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), assists academically able students from Commonwealth countries to study in the UK. DfID also supports students from developing countries attending UK universities under Technical Co-operation Training arrangements. Students from developing countries are also eligible for FCO Chevening Scholarships.

§ Mr. Vaz
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will take steps to improve the access of students from developing countries to British universities. [23185]

§ Dr. Howells
Her Majesty's Government will continue to target resources on schemes which enable international students, including those from developing countries, to study in the United Kingdom.
The main schemes are described in a booklet produced in 1997 by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UKCOSA (The Council for International Education) and The British Council called, "Studying in the UK, Sources of funding for international students", a copy of which has been placed in the Library. Many of these schemes are open to students from developing countries.