SOUTH AUSTRALIANS TO BE PRICED OUT OF A UNIVERSITY DEGREE
31st August 2004
Reports today that the University of Adelaide is offering South Australia’s first domestic full fee paying degree over $100,000 is further proof that the Government’s higher education policies are pricing people out of universities.
“Despite the Prime Ministers’ assurance in 1999 that no Australian student would be forced to pay $100,000 for a university degree, it has now been revealed that the University of Adelaide is charging $117,000 for a dentistry degree,” said Dr Carolyn Allport, National Tertiary Education Union National (NTEU) President.
“The NTEU simply asks how many Australian families can afford to pay $100,000 or more to send their kids to university?”
“The Howard Government’s higher education reforms allow universities to increase the number of full fee paying domestic students. This means that more people will be a able to buy places at university, even when students with higher marks are missing out on government-supported places.”
“Entry into university should be about merit not money,” said Dr Allport.
”Even South Australian students who are offered government-supported university places will experience substantial increases in HECS fees from next year.”
“All three of South Australia’s Universities have announced maximum fee increases of 25% for domestic students from 2005. In addition, the University of Adelaide has increased the number of full fee paying domestic places offered in 2005.”
“There is no doubt that this Government’s policies will price many potential Australian students out of university.”
“With these policies, parents need to consider whether they will be able to afford to send their kids to university under another Howard Government.”
For further information and comment:
Dr Carolyn Allport, NTEU President: 0419 349 064
Andrew Nette, NTEU Policy and Research Coordinator: 0438 026 277