§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the cost to United Kingdom universities of the changed fee obligations of students from the accession countries after EU enlargement. [166735]
§ Alan JohnsonIn 2002–03 around 3,400 full-time undergraduate students in UK higher education institutions came from countries about to join the EU. Assuming that international students pay upwards of £6500 in 2004–05 in tuition fees, the likely loss of that direct fee income to higher education institutions—the difference between the "overseas" and the "home" fee rate—from those students would be at least 18 million.
From the start of the 2004–05 academic year, higher education institutions will be eligible for funding from the HE funding councils in respect of students from the accession countries, on the same basis as other EU students and home students. The exact amount will depend on the course of study. The students themselves will generally pay a means-tested fee contribution. Higher education institutions have been aware of this change for some years and of the need to budget accordingly.