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Higher education take-up remains high 1 October 2010 TAKE-UP of higher education place remains high in 2010, the Minister for Education and Children said today (Friday). The closing date for applications to the Department for funding for all but postgraduate courses is today. The postgraduate deadline passed on 1st September. Statistics so far show that 1,611 students will be funded to study for higher ed ucation qualifications at UK education institutions, at the Isle of Man College or International Business School or by distance learning, 709 of them new students. The figure is down only slightly on the 1,646 funded in 2009/10 but is always subject to annual fluctuation. In addition to having their course fees paid by the Isle of Man Government, almost a third (456) of the 1,611 students being funded also qualify for maintenance grants. The Government continues to meet course fees for all undergraduate students, while postgraduate students starting new courses are, for the first time, being asked to pay a means-tested contribution of £1,000. Regulations approved by Tynwald in April mean students starting courses of four years or more are required to contribute £1,000 for the fourth and subsequent years. They also require students to achieve an upper second class honours degree or higher to qualify for postgraduate funding. Eddie Teare MHK said 121 students would be funded on postgraduate courses this year, while only 14 applications for postgraduate funding had been turned down. The Government has committed £11.5 million in 2010/11 to higher education funding, he reiterated. He said: ‘I am pleased that so many young people have taken advantage of the generous assistance provided by the Isle of Man Government for higher education. Unlike the UK, assistance is given for the major part of the tuition fees and also maintenance grants for those who are eligible. This is, I am sure, a very worthwhile investment and means that our students do not face the daunting prospect of starting their working lives with large debts.’ PHOTO: Minister Eddie Teare MHK says students receive generous assistance More stories >>>
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