Has Tony Blair finally destroyed the class society in British universities or made a good university education harder for those from a working class background (not that I like to define people by class)? Are MA (Masters) courses the new degree and if so, why isnt there any student loan deal available for them?
2006-09-21 22:15:03 · 6 answers · asked by AaronO 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Higher Education (University +)
I graduated with a first in archaeology and, unfortunately, its not renowned for its high pay. Im on the breadline working in a museum. To further my studies I require money. My parents dont have any, I cant earn any. Thus, the only people who can afford to carry on, to make a career of archaeology, are those with rich parents who can easily afford the astronomical tuition fees. Hence, a class society, well, at least in archaeology and probably other humanities too.
2006-09-21 23:22:28 · update #1
Tony Blair has made a good university education harder for everybody, not just by introducing tuition fees but also by diminishing the value and quality of a university degree by trying to force 50% of the population to get one. Just think, if we didn't have all these extra people earning degrees which don't get them anywhere, we wouldn't need tuition fees to top up government funds.
This devaluing of the Bachelor's degree is indeed making Masters courses the new degree as people now need postgraduate qualifications to distinguish them from the herd.
As an anthropology grad, I sympathise with you on this one. Here's to working in a call centre so I can pay for my MSc!
2006-09-21 23:49:09 · answer #1 · answered by lauriekins 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Thankfully im in the old system, and thus my overall debt will be £14,000 when I finish this year, and thats bad enough, but imagine, having to pay back £30,000. Im from a working class background, and trying to get myself a good, worthwhile job. But I must admit, If I had to pay so much off, I don't think I would bother. Its already going to take me years to pay 14grand off, so 30 is a no go area. I think it puts a barrier between the working class and the upper class. As for MA, i would love to do one, but its like another £10,000 debt for me, and with no support, I don't see any life line to that.
I think i will go into industry and work for some time before I can head back to university to do an MA. I am doing a computing degree, and as it currently stands, I have to take a computer course every 2 years to keep 'up-to-date', however, should I sucessfully complete a masters, I wouldnt have to do this.
2006-09-21 23:08:57 · answer #2 · answered by Krissie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, the variable tutition fees are an excellent idea. Because of my university education and my hard work since, I earn as much as my parents earn (they both earn roughly the same as each other).
I pay back some of my student loan each year.
MA's are not the new degree, but the time will come when you have to have either a MA or MBA to work in the business sector.
If you want to study after you've left school and 6-form, you should have to pay for it. Wether you pay now or after you've graduated is what should be debated, I personally think the system is working well.
2006-09-21 22:53:44 · answer #3 · answered by thebigtombs 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Education is a right, not a privelidge, There should be no such thing as loans for students at any level, post-grad or otherwise
When I did my MSc I worked and did it p/t I was allowed to pay my fees in instalments. It was a long hard slog but I got there in the end.
The government are so two-faced about it. They want people to go to uni but expect people to go into massive debt to do it.
All the best and brightest should be fully funded right up to Doctorate level. That way we would have the skilled people we need.
And for those who moan about free tuition, remember that the next time you need a doctor or a lawyer to get you out of trouble!
Those that normally moan about students getting grants instead of loans are those that wern't good enough to get there or were too lazy to take on the hard work that is involved at that level of study.
2006-09-21 23:46:13 · answer #4 · answered by LYN W 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tony Blair has destroyed the concept of the class-less society by making money a barrier to education.
The number of people with traditional level degrees is increasing and by inference of the market place truisums they are being devalued.
Education just makes the prols unhappy, he is just doing us a favour, knowing and understanding what the government are doing just depresses me.
2006-09-21 22:29:34 · answer #5 · answered by paul B 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
dude.. sorry - the ministry changed into the first one hit because of the funding disaster... so, the letter that you supposedly were given from the ministry is a pretend.. you have not been admitted to hogwarts.. so, do not situation about the price will strengthen or lack of money for potions..
2016-11-23 14:41:59 · answer #6 · answered by akien 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋