The University of Bristol welcomes the key aspects of Lord Browne's Review. There is a real need to address who should pay for the cost of higher education at a time when the government is committed to reducing public spending and Lord Browne's proposals articulate the need for a properly funded university system while building on the fair and progressive elements of the current system.
We welcome the proposal that no parent or student would have to pay tuition fees up front; a graduate would only pay when they are earning £21,000 per year. This will be crucial in ensuring that financial circumstances are not a barrier to anyone considering a university education. The bottom 20 per cent of earners would pay back less than they do at the moment and only the top 40 per cent on average would be expected to pay back all the costs. We remain committed to ensuring that anyone who has very high potential can benefit by studying at Bristol, regardless of their background or economic circumstances.
We are giving careful consideration to the implications of the proposals set out in Lord Browne's Review and in the Government’s recent announcement about the proposed changes to student funding from 2012. More information about the proposed changes is available at: http://www.bis.gov.uk/studentfinance. We will aim to provide information about possible future fee levels and student funding packages as soon as practically possible.
We are aware that some of our applicants have applied this year for deferred entry in 2012, and so will be subject to the new fees. The University is considering the level of fees it will charge next year and will write to all deferred offer-holders with information about future fee levels and student funding packages as soon as practically possible.
Alternatively, if deferred applicants would like to change their year of entry to 2011, rather than 2012, then they should contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office as soon as possible to amend their year of entry. Applicants should note that, if they are made an offer for 2012 entry and seek to change the offer to 2011 at a later stage, then the University may not be able to agree to their request if all the places for 2011 have been filled.