Sheffield Hallam University

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)
D No decision
"This is entirely about how we present the institution and must be subject to the council's decision. The critical thing we have to do is think about what all universities are doing and think about it in context of what people think about Sheffield Hallam. We had one very early discussion in July and there are differing views. Like most universities there will be differences of opinion throughout the university."


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)


3 Are you introducing bursaries?
A Yes
B No
No answer


4 How much for?
No answer


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
No answer


6 If yes, are they funded
A From central university funds
B From a benefactor, private donations, etc?
C A mixture
No answer


7 Have you employed outside agencies to help you make the decision (market researchers/brand managers)?
A "Yes we are like most institutions looking at our brand to fit in with the new wider market. We are working with external relations companies to look at how we are perceived, but not specifically on the fees question."
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
No answer


9 Will top-up fees provide enough extra income for the university for the foreseeable future?
A Yes
B No "Quite clearly no. The government was clear that this doesn't fill the funding gap. The other interesting issue is what we and other institutions do about how we find different ways of funding in terms of the Eric Thomas report."


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


11 Do you think top-up fees will put less well-off students off going to university?
A Yes
B No
"We can't predict student behaviour. If you look back into the past there was a general prediction that fees would see a decline in participation. It's made it more difficult to be really serious about widening participation.

"I guess the level depends on how clearly we get the message across about this. It's both the government's and our job to sell that message. The difference is that while we have a common interest that higher education is a good investment, each institution has to convince students that they are worth the investment."


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
"I wouldn't want to be complacent, but it's not really directed at institutions like this one".