University of Cambridge

1 Will you charge:
A Top-up fees across the board maximum (£3,000)
B A flat rate for all courses below £3,000. (If so,what is it?)
C Different rates for different courses.(If so,please specify range - ie minimum/maximum)


"In a Report of 11 August 2004, the University Council has recommended that fees for all Home and EU students be set at £3,000 for 2006-2007. A decision on this recommendation is anticipated next month."


2 If you are varying fees will they be:
A Lower for Sciences

B Lower for Arts/Humanities/social sciences
C Lower for foundation degrees
D Lower for vocationally-focused degrees
E A combination, please state (areas or specific
courses)
N/A


3 Are you introducing bursaries?
A Yes
B No

"We already provide financial support for students in a number of ways. In 2003-2004, more than £4m was awarded in hardship funds, childcare support, travel and book grants, scholarships and prizes. In addition to this, we announced a new, need-based bursary scheme in November of last year that will be implemented at the same time as any increases in current fee levels."


4 How much for?


"Once a decision about fees for 2006-7 has been taken early this autumn, details about the full Cambridge bursary scheme will be announced in good time for students to plan."


5 If yes, will they be:
A Targeted at the most needy students
B Targeted at subjects which are short of students
C A mixture, please detail


"We are committed to a 'needs blind' admissions system and to needs-based bursaries."


6 If yes, are they funded
A From central university funds?
B From a benefactor, private donations, etc?
C A mixture


"The new Cambridge bursary scheme will be supported by the funds we already use for this purpose, augmented with a portion of the new income from fees. An active fundraising programme will seek to replace the latter over time."


7 Have you employed outside agencies to help you make
the decision (market researchers/brand managers)?
A Yes
B No


8 Where will you spend the extra income?
A Better student facilities
B Better academic facilities
C Better academic pay
D Bursaries
E Bumping up research capacity
F Other, please state


"Additional income will be used to support the costs of a Cambridge education and, at the outset, to help support the new bursary system."


9 Will top-up fees provide enough extra income for the
university for the foreseeable future?
A Yes
B No


"This new income would provide only a partial solution to the chronic under-funding of the university."


10 How long do you expect the limit on top-up fees to
remain at £3,000?
A 1-3 years
B 4-6 years
C 7-10 years
D Over 10 years


"We see little purpose to speculation of this kind. Our goal is to ensure that if Cambridge decides to increase fees for home and EU undergraduate students in 2006 and beyond, no one is deterred from applying to Cambridge as a result."


11 Do you think top-up fees will put less well-off
students off going to university?
A Yes
B No


"The new provisions offer better financial support for potential students from poorer backgrounds than at present. We are clear that students who want to apply to Cambridge can do so in the knowledge that financial support is available if they need it."


12 How do you think Offa will affect your attempts to
widen participation?
A Help
B Hinder
C Have no effect
D Undecided, please state


"This will depend on how Offa is implemented. We already make great strides with our widening participation schemes, undertaking an enormous range of activities to encourage applications from all walks of life, and particularly, from those groups that are currently under represented at the university."