PART-TIME STUDENTS: THE FORGOTTEN HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS Birkbeck University of London 22 March 2007 Professor Claire Callender London South Bank University

House of Commons Select Committee Report on the Future of Higher Education Fifth Report of Session HC “The White Paper is principally concerned with young, full time students. The needs of those who fall outside that category must be properly taken into account if the higher education sector is to provide truly improved access.” (p 49)

Aims and Methodology Aim – to assess undergraduate students’ experiences of and attitudes towards, part time study and its costs in the UK today Method - Online survey of 2,654 undergraduates –Differs from other DfES studies e.g. Woodley (2004) and 1998/9 and 2004/5 Student Income and Expenditure Surveys because includes all students irrespective of intensity of study and prior qualifications Drawn from 25 UK universities Conducted November 2005-January 2006 Sample over-represents students taking a 1 st degree

Part-time HE students by level of study N = 837,010 Source: HESA 2003/04

Part-time undergraduates Vital statistics Over ½ million Growing at a faster pace than full timers No typical part time student Nearly half already have an HE qualification Concentrated in certain subjects –combined, nursing, psychology, business studies Unequally distributed – concentrated in limited number of HEIs

Top 10 HEIs by number of PT undergraduates, 2004/05 TOTALFTPTPT as % of TOTAL The Open University 154, Anglia Ruskin University 22,6909,69513,00057 Birkbeck College 11,170511, Thames Valley University 18,0108,4709,54053 The University of Warwick 19,91010,4509,45547 The University of Teesside 17,8808,4709,41553 Leeds Metropolitan University 23,78015,0358,74537 The University of Sunderland 15,9757,3558,62054 University of Glamorgan 18,3559,8358,52046 The University of Central Lancashire 23,66015,4708,18535 Total UK 1,754,9101,165,445589,465

Part and full time undergraduates compared Part timeFull time Aged over 25 years on entry 80%14% Women65%60% Minority Ethnic groups 10%16%

Reasons for choosing to study part time rather than full time Source: London South Bank University - UUK Part-time Student Survey 2006

Motives for studying Source: London South Bank University - UUK Part-time Student Survey 2006

Current student support in England Help from Access to Learning Fund IF: - Studying 50% of a full time course; and/or - not already have a degree………….. 1.Course grant: means-tested, up to £250 - full grant for students with incomes <£23,744 2.Fee grant: Means-tested linked to students’ hours of study - full grant for students with incomes <£15,344

Current student support- Banded fee grants Fee grant for students studying 2005/062006/07 50% - 59% FTE£590£750 60% - 74% FTE£710£900 75% or more FTE£885£1,125 Eligibility thresholds for receipt of full fee grant / maximum ncome for receipt of partial fee grant £14,969 / £19,625 £15,000 / £23,000 (provisional)

Ruth Kelly, Education Secretary 18 Oct 2005 “Part-time education plays a fundamental role in our higher education system. It extends access to higher education for hundreds of thousands of students who are unable to study on a full-time basis. The support needed by part-time students varies considerably. Our new package will protect the participation of students in the most challenging financial circumstances.”

Eligibility to student support Source: London South Bank University - UUK Part-time Student Survey 2006

Adequacy of student support Fee grant for students studying 2005/06 max. grant 2006/07 max. grant 2005/06 Mean fee charged 50% - 59% FTE£590£750£641 60% - 74% FTE£710£900£943 75% or more FTE £885£1,125£983 Source: London South Bank University - UUK Part-time Student Survey 2006

Adequacy of student support 2005/06 max. grant % students charged fees greater than grant 2006/07 max. grant % students charged fees greater than grant 50% - 59% FTE£59040%£75025% 60% - 74% FTE£71085%£90038% 75% or more FTE£88563%£1,12528% All students53%28% Source: London South Bank University - UUK Part-time Student Survey 2006

Attitudes to student support Source: London South Bank University - UUK Part-time Student Survey 2006

Optimum price Source: London South Bank University - UUK Part-time Student Survey 2006

Conclusions Affordability and convenience are the key reasons for studying part time For many part-timers – full time study is not an option A minority of students are eligible for course and tuition fee grants Students’ costs are higher than the support available Part-timers very price sensitive If fees rise in line with full time fees – above the optimum price – participation may fall Need to review part-time student support

Dearing Report 1997 The country should have a student support system which as far as possible:…………….. –Is equitable and encourages broadly based participation; –Requires those with the means to do so to make a fair contribution to the costs of higher education; –Supports lifelong learning by making the choices between full and part-time, and between continuous and discontinuous study financially neutral; reducing the disparity between support for students in further and higher education levels; –Is easy to understand, administratively efficient and cost-effective. (p 304)

Questions Should part-time fees be left unregulated or should they be capped? Should part-time students be able to defer fee payments? How do we have a system of fee support that encourages employer support? At what credit volume should part timers qualify for student support? Given the heterogeneity of the part time student population – should we have a more differentiated system of support? Do the fees actually cover the costs of teaching part-time students?

Who paid for fees? % with fees paid Amount where fees paid Fees paid byMean £ Median £ N Self ,468 Family and Friends Bank Loan/ Career Development Loan 1**17 Employer Grant/fees waived Other Base2,534