$210,000 FOR A DEGREE – IS THE GOVERNMENT PRICING PEOPLE OUT OF UNIVERSITY?
July 1 2004
The report in today’s Australian newspaper that Melbourne University is considering charging domestic students up to $210,000 for a medical degree, $196,000 for a veterinary science degree and $96,000 for a law degree from 2005, 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 Melbourne is considering charging up to $210,000 for a medical degree,” Dr Carolyn Allport, National Tertiary Education Union National (NTEU) President said today.
“How many Australian families can afford to pay $210,000 or even $100,000 to send their kids to university?”
“Under this Government’s policies, universities are being allowed 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 your ability not your bank balance.”
”Even students who are offered government-supported places at most universities will experience substantial increases in HECS fees from next year.”
“To date, 24 out of 38 of Australia’s publicly funded universities have announced fee increases of between 15% and 25%.”
“Government estimates show these students will pay in excess of $828 million in extra fees over the next four years, and by the time all universities announce their fee increases this number will be considerably higher.”
“There is no doubt that this Government’s policies will price many potential Australians out of university.”
“Going to university is becoming more important for securing a well paying and rewarding job – but how high should the price of opportunity be?”
For information and comment
Andrew Nette, NTEU Policy and Research Coordinator: 0438 026277
Paul Kniest, NTEU Policy and Research Officer: 0418 170 622