Responding to the findings of a Universities UK research report ‘Part-time students in higher education – supporting higher-level skills and lifelong learning‘ published this week, Sir Martin Harris, Director of OFFA, said:
‘These research findings are a valuable contribution to the evidence on part-time students, recognising in particular the need to consider part-time students fully in monitoring the impact of variable fees on the higher education sector.
‘It’s interesting that the research concludes there is a lack of demand for deferred tuition fees. Whilst I agree this is an area which needs to be given careful consideration, my opinion has always been that as a principle of equity, part-time students should have access to financial support on the same basis as their full-time colleagues. The research does point out that 38 per cent of part-timers would be willing to take out some form of income contingent loan, which, in my view may indicate a reasonable demand for deferred fees.’