Queen's University of Belfast

Answers provided by the university office.


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)
Answer not provided


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)
Answer not provided


3 Are you introducing bursaries?
A Yes
B No
Answer not provided


4 How much for?
Answer not provided


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
Answer not provided


6 If yes, are they funded
A From central university funds?
B From a benefactor, private donations, etc?
C A mixture?
Answer not provided


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
Answer not provided
9 Will top-up fees provide enough extra income for the university for the foreseeable future?
A Yes
B No
Answer not provided


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
Answer not provided


11 Do you think top-up fees will put less well-off students off going to university?
A Yes
B No
"We do not think top-up fees will put less well-off students off going to university. Future students will benefit from the new proposals because, unlike the current system, repayment of loans will be based on what they earn, not on what they owe."


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
Answer not provided


Any other comments?


"We are unable to answer most of the detailed questions in your survey because a final decision on the introduction of top-up fees in Northern Ireland has yet to be made. The consultation period on the Department for Employment and Learning's proposals for higher education funding closed at the end of June.

"We do not yet know the outcome of this consultation. In other words, the legislation that has been implemented in England and Wales has not been implemented in Northern Ireland. For information: Queen's University has already welcomed DEL's proposals which are broadly similar to those for England and Wales. It is important that Northern Ireland does not fall behind competitors in the rest of the United Kingdom.


"The University has said that Northern Ireland students would benefit from the abolition of up-front fees. The principle of wider access to university is better protected by the introduction of a system which is free at the point of entry, free during the period of study and free until the graduate can afford to pay.


"Variable fees are a crucial element of the package. Fixed fees remove flexibility, and that is not in the interests of students or the wider community."