University of Manchester students to walk out over fees
Article published: Wednesday, March 14th 2012
University of Manchester students are to walk out over postgraduate fee hikes today as part of a ‘week of action’ called for by the National Union of Students.
The walkout will take place from 11am, after which students will gather for a rally at All Saints Park at 12pm.
The protest comes as the University of Manchester plans to raise the minimum fees for postgraduate taught courses by 43 per cent from £3,500 to £5,000. The changes are planned to take place from the start of the next academic year in September 2012.
Further increases have not been ruled out, and campaigners fear future hikes of up to £9,000 following remarks earlier this year from Professor Vincent Emery, vice-head of University College London’s graduate school, that postgraduate fees were likely to rise to be more line with undergraduate courses.
Treasurer of Manchester Against Fees and Cuts Sarah Kerton warned fee rises could mean that “many students will be priced out of a postgraduate education,” as postgraduate students do not typically have access to student loans and must “pay for their degree upfront”.
Kerton added: “We must stop a postgraduate degree becoming even more elitist than it already is by putting pressure on the university to remove finance as a barrier.”
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