My University increased their fees by 15% in one year!

Windows7forever on 20/12/2015 - 18:18

I don't want to name the university for certain reasons but I think it is quite excessive as an "annual" fee increase.
They also state that it is "dependent on annual review" i.e. they can keep increasing it every year.
As I am a current student of the university I argued that I should be "locked into the old rate" as this is what I anticipated to pay when I commenced the course back in 2015. They said I must pay the increase and that it applies equally to all students.

When I queried why the fee increase was so steep the lady said that she "could not comment" and that "she doesn't make these decisions". A friend suggested it it might have something to do with the government "cost cutting" i.e. reducing educational subsidies. If I don't pay my fees upfront there is a ridiculous 25% loan levy for "FEE-HELP" so deferring it is not an option.
I will just have to cough up a further $800 for next semester it seems which means either work more over christmas and/or tighten the belt further(i.e. reduce spending as close to $0).

I am a domestic full fee paying student.

Education & Work

Comments

  • frutter on 20/12/2015 - 18:55

    not sure how much is your course but I suggest trying to work out whether putting that money in a bank for interest (defer to hecs) will be better than paying upfront………you may end up with more than $800 interest in that year

  • zolinger on 20/12/2015 - 18:58

    Can you name the course?

  • [Deactivated] on 20/12/2015 - 19:39

    Name the university. I don't see what you can't.

    The Federal senate, Labor, Palmer United and the Greens do not want to pass the government's deregulation of universities. Currently the HELP system is unsustainable and our universities have record number class sizes and standards are slipping.
    The universities need a new funding arrangement and until that happens they're going to try and reap as much money from the government, international students and domestic students as possible.

    • Windows7forever on 20/12/2015 - 20:48

      Charles Sturt University

    • mskeggs on 21/12/2015 - 10:30
      +1

      The universities are doing fine.
      http://www.australianuniversities.com.au/rankings/
      Fee-help is completely sustainable. The vast majority of graduates earn above average incomes, and pay off their indexed debt quite swiftly.
      I haven't seen figures on those who fail to graduate, but I would be surprised if they didn't also repay their debts in a reasonable period.
      The biggest threat to fee help is the deregulation of the VET sector which has been a disaster. You won't find any argument from me that needs reform - but deregulating universities is unrelated.
      The whole HECS system costs $2.4b (http://theopenbudget.org/#2007), not chicken feed, but peanuts in the scheme of tertiary educating the quarter of the population that has a degree. It is hard to think of a government program that is more fit for purpose in terms of outcomes for the cost.

      You have been fed a bunch of political nonsense to support the more prestigious university's desire to have an American style fee system to feather their own nests.

      • [Deactivated] on 21/12/2015 - 18:43

        MUST DEREGULATE!!

        • mskeggs on 21/12/2015 - 22:35

          Cogent, well sourced rebuttal. You've got me. Oh hang on, no.

        • [Deactivated] on 21/12/2015 - 22:51

          @mskeggs:

          I don't have to prove anything to you. I have my reasons. I support deregulation and will always do whatever it takes to pass the legislation.
          When Turnbull wipes the floor with Labor, the Senate will soon bend the knee.
          FEE-HELP is not a concern for me. I am talking about HECS-HELP.

        • mskeggs on 22/12/2015 - 07:43

          @tendollar:
          If there are good reasons to support deregulation, I'd be interested to hear them.
          To date, the argument has been that raising university fees will allow the uni's to spend more money on improving the quality of research and teaching, and that the government will be able to cut it's contribution to supported students.

          I don't see any evidence to believe the first case, and I think the government should have an ongoing role in funding universities, so I'm not persuaded that cuts are good.

  • Randxyz123 on 20/12/2015 - 19:48

    Why are you paying full fees if you are a domestic student?

    • Windows7forever on 20/12/2015 - 20:50

      If I don't pay my fees upfront there is a ridiculous 25% loan levy for "FEE-HELP" so deferring it is not an option.

      • Randxyz123 on 20/12/2015 - 21:48
        +1

        Sorry I don't mean to keep asking the same question but why is HECS not a option for you?

        • Windows7forever on 20/12/2015 - 22:37

          It just isn't available for my course

        • [Deactivated] on 21/12/2015 - 18:43

          He's probably doing a Masters degree.

  • holdenmg on 20/12/2015 - 20:20
    +2

    Hi,

    I'm sorry to hear of your fee increase, sorry annual fee increase(s).

    I can certainly see the merit in your argument that your acceptance of the course place offer was predicated on a level fee (or possibly a modest increase referenced to the CPI.)

    Clearly the lady receiving the fees has "no comment" etc.

    You might have some opportunity to question the University (in writing) about whether the increases associated with the Course you are pursuing are actually 15%, or whether this is an arbitrary increase.

    Also, although it sounds good (if you say if quickly enough) that "you must pay the increase and that it applies equally to all students" this is a pretty broad assumption that if you charge everyone the same increase, fairness abounds.

    But, that isn't necessarily so.

    I think you could advance the idea that fairness could be (better) served by a means test on existing Students Incomes.

    Ask them in writing for what the Yearly Fee was for a Student studying your Course in 2010-2015 and compare that percentage increase against the CPI.

    Ask them what processes and communications were provided to consult with existing students about their capacity to pay such an increase, whether they will consider a moratorium on the increased fees (particularly if other students are unaware or will find the increase a burden). Also, ask if there is a discretion on the part of the University to charge a lower fee.

    Ask them if there is an appeals process.

    • Windows7forever on 20/12/2015 - 20:54

      Thanks for the helpful information. I will look into putting a letter together with the information you have provided and see what happens with it.

      • hobo123 on 20/12/2015 - 21:10

        What course is this where it isn't covered by HECS-HELP?

  • burningrage on 20/12/2015 - 20:25

    When I took my Uni Course, the course fee was locked for the duration of the course (that is, the same fee every year) and I thought that was a legislative thing.

    Not long after I finished my Uni, I began to hear stories of Universities putting new clauses saying they could vary the course fees during studies there, and that was UniMelb.

    Lastly, the Govt is abolishing early pay discounts as well.

  • Lysander on 20/12/2015 - 20:40

    Your argument about the "grandfathered fees" is correct and if you took it further I believe you have good chances to win. You would help thousands of other students too. But of course costs and risks associated. Maybe check with Legal Aid.

    Another avenue is to go to media and try to get them to do a story on how this affects your life and how it might prompt you (or other students) to leave uni due to affordability issues.

    There is a price to pay if you treat education as a business rather than an investment in your country's future: slipping standards and virtually annual increases in fees (especially if not limited by government) as the business that is the university needs to post increased turnover and profits each year, just like a stock market listed company.

    What this country needs in this regard is peaceful mass protests telling the government that they must go back to education not being a business but rather an investment into Australia's future (as for example in Scandinavian countries where uni is free for the nationals)

    • whooah1979 on 20/12/2015 - 21:01
      +1

      norway is the only nordic country that has more uni graduate than oz. its free, but they only manage to beat oz by 0.9%.
      https://data.oecd.org/eduatt/population-with-tertiary-educat…

      • Lysander on 20/12/2015 - 21:33
        +1

        It is not about more graduates. It is about better quality and qualified graduates which needs higher standards. That also means less students who get into uni as not everyone is uni material.
        But if you make it a business the standards must go lower continually in order to have a bigger and bigger prospective target group.

        Other countries with lower numbers of graduates are more economically successful than Australia such as the US, France, Germany, Netherlands etc. and if you compare the standards there they are much higher than in Australia - that is the reason for their bigger success.

        • mrham on 21/12/2015 - 01:01
          +3

          Agreed. It's less about academia and more about bums on seats. It doesn't help that there are more and more third tier schools popping up just to make some bucks.

        • Windows7forever on 21/12/2015 - 04:41
          +2

          @mrham: Yeah I agree. Going to university is overrated anyway. It didn't help me get a job the first time around. This time it's different, as employment is guaranteed at completion of the course.
          Some unis like Western Sydney Uni(UWS) have so much money they don't know what to do with it so they spent millions changing their logo and 're-branding' themselves.

  • swiggity swag on 20/12/2015 - 21:29

    Are you commonwealth supported? If not the university can change you whatever they want.

    • Windows7forever on 21/12/2015 - 04:43
      +1

      The commonwealth doesn't 'support' me with anything mate.

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