London South Bank University announces average fee of £8,390
You may be aware from the media that London South Bank University has recently announced it will be charging tuition fees of an average of £8,390 per annum from September 2012 onwards for its undergraduate full time programmes.
These fees will range from £5,950 for an undergraduate foundation degree at a partner college, to £8,450 for a full time undergraduate degree.
I wanted to give you the context for this decision.
As you know, London South Bank University is committed to creating professional opportunity for all who can benefit. With cuts of 92 per cent to teaching, over 50 per cent to capital grants, the University is not willing to compromise the quality of education offered to students from diverse backgrounds by setting a lower fee, given that these loans are effectively a tax rather than a debt, only repayable once students are earning more than £21,000 per annum.
67 per cent of LSBU courses are professionally accredited and all are developed in conjunction with industry to provide the best opportunities for professional success. Reflecting LSBU’s close links with industry, the University also has the 12th highest overall starting salary of any university in the UK (Source: The Times Good University Guide 2010).
LSBU’s professionally-focused degree courses, as well as the overall student experience, add immense value to our students’ lives. According to the 2011 Guardian University League Tables, LSBU is in the top 25 per cent of all universities for adding value to students.
LSBU has invested over £50m in the recent past in modern teaching facilities and this investment programme is continuing with a further £38m ongoing; including a new student centre scheduled for completion in late 2012; and an Enterprise Centre to showcase the achievements of students and staff in early 2013.
And finally, to the subject of league tables. Newspaper league tables do not accurately reflect the true standing of LSBU, because they focus on full-time, non-NHS undergraduates only, and are heavily driven by entry criteria. We occupy the position we do because the half of our students who are part-time are excluded, and because of our policy of inclusiveness. The quality of education at LSBU has been given the highest possible rating by the independent Quality Assurance Agency.
Our track record in supporting students from a diverse range of backgrounds to achieve their career objectives is strong. We have many success stories across the world, from the media to government ministers and from PR to politics. We should all be proud of London South Bank University and the achievements of our outstanding alumni.
Yours sincerely
Professor Martin J Earwicker
Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive