Glasgow University sets £6,750 RUK fee for majority

Glasgow University today opted to partially undercut ancient rivals St Andrews and Edinburgh in setting fee levels for rest of UK (RUK) students.

The institution is to charge the majority of students from England, Northern Ireland and Wales £6,750 a year from the academic year 2012/13.

However, undergraduates undertaking courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine are to be asked for £9,000 a year with no cap imposed.

The move means the majority of RUK students will be faced with a four-year degree cost totalling £26,000 after a bursary or fee waiver of £1,000 was promised to all first years.

The announcement comes a day after neighbour Strathclyde University declared the introduction of £9,000 fees with a cap of £27,000 put in place.

Professor Anton Muscatelli, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Glasgow, said the decision to forego maximum levels across the board was aimed at ensuring the higher education institution remained "inclusive" to all.

He said: “We greatly value the contribution, both academic and social, that students from the Rest of the United Kingdom make to our campus and are committed to doing all that we can to ensure that they continue to be a welcome part of our university.

“We considered all of our options, and have been able to limit the fees for undergraduate students to £6750, with those studying degrees in medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine charged £9000 a year.

“We have also been able to be innovative and imaginative in coming up with a package of measures which, we hope, will make the choice of studying at the University of Glasgow even more appealing.

"We have decided to invest significant amounts in a generous package of bursaries and fee discounts. This will mean that every single RUK student who embarks on a four or five-year degree programme will be awarded a £1000 bursary or fee waiver in their first year.”

Glasgow University Students’ Representative Council (GUSRC) president, Stuart Ritchie - who was part of the sub-committee of the University’s ruling Court charged with setting levels - welcomed the restraint shown, albeit urged university management to explain in further detail promises of fee waivers and further bursaries to students from lower income backgrounds.

He said: "GUSRC welcome the University's decision of a fee level below £9,000 per year but are fully aware that the total cost of a University of Glasgow degree will be £27,000 excluding bursaries. We now ask the University to provide further details of how this cost will be subsidised, particularly for those from low-income households.

"We worked constructively to lobby the University to ensure that a commitment would be made to keep the University of Glasgow open and inclusive.

“Whilst the initiatives mentioned in today's announcement take a step toward this, further information is needed to prove that the finance packages are not merely tokenistic and that the desire to widen access remains a long term vision for the University."