ExtendingDiscountsto Part-timePostgraduates

POSTGRADUATES

IndexSummary 3

Background: Part-time Postgraduates in London 4

Survey of Part-time postgraduates in London 6

Fair Fares for Part-time Postgraduates 15

Conclusions 17

It is entirely unfair not to offer the same discounts and concessions to part-time postgraduate students as those offered to full-time postgradu-ates. Most students studying part-time do so due to their financial circum-stances or due to lack of funding…It is unfair to assume that just because someone is studying part-time it means they have a full-time salary to rely on; this is not the case for most of us who are only able to balance our studies by working part-time…Therefore it is completely unjustified that part-time postgraduates are discriminated against in regards to TfL dis-counts, Council Tax discounts, … or any student concessions … when these are offered to our full-time counterparts. Without discounts to travel to university, or interest-free student overdrafts or Council Tax discounts, which would help to manage our debts, it is becoming almost impossible to survive financially whilst trying to complete a PhD.

- survey respondent

1. Over 53,000 students are registered as part-time postgraduate students in London.

2. Reasons for studying part-time include personal and financial circum-stances

3. Our survey of nearly 1,600 students drawn from 35 higher education insti-tutions in London revealed:

• Over 80% rely on personal sources to fund their studies • 45% earn less than £15,000 per annum to cover fees, living expenses and study materials • 23% have dependents • Students spend on average about £1,020 for Council Tax each year, and 86% of respondents pay an average of £1,330 for public transport • Many of these students face great difficulties in trying to combine study with paid work

4. Part-time postgraduates are not ordinarily eligible for Travel or Council Tax discounts despite unofficially meeting the same thresholds for study hours as full-time postgraduates.

5. We propose an extension of the Transport for London (TfL) 16-25 Railcard and Council Tax discounts for all part-time postgraduate students.

6. The proposal aims to provide a degree of equity for all postgraduate students irrespective of part- or full-time mode of study, since all full-time PG and undergraduate students are already eligible for the same conces-sions.

7. Universities would assist in validating which part-time postgraduates should be granted Travelcard discounts and Council Tax exemptions.

Summary

3

Numbers of Part-time postgraduates in London*• There are 259,000 part time postgraduates in the UK (all domiciles);• The 53,145 part-time postgraduatess in London means the capital has

the highest concentration of such students (21% of UK total);• Of these, 45,600 (86%) are registered for taught courses while 7,555

(=14%) are following research degrees;• Approximately 44,500 part-time postgraduatess (=84%) in London are

from the UK ;• Women students make up 58% of all Part-time postgraduatess in Lon-

don.* Excluding the Open University, London Regional Centre Source: HESA Students in Higher Education Institutions, 2011/12

Part-time postgraduate students in London are faced with substantial chal-lenges. The cost of living in London is significantly higher than other UK regions as recognised by London salary weighting and the London Living Wage1. According to NUS research, the average cost of student rent in Lon-don is £157.48 per week2.

While the high cost of living in London affects all students, postgraduates are in a particularly difficult position as many do not have easy access to loans for their studies. Also, course fees for postgraduates are uncapped and have been increasing in recent years. With a lack of an undergraduate equivalent student loan, many students are turning to part-time study to help fund their fees.

An NUS report recently stated that part-time students had “elected to study this way in order to find a job and fund their courses, an interesting distinction from what would traditionally be understood as … adapting study around a current job or career3.”

Background:Part-time Postgraduates in London

Section 1

1 A Fairer London: The 2012 Living Wage in London, GLA Economics, Nov. 2012

2 NUS Accommodation Costs Survey 2012/13, http://www.poundinyourpocket.org.uk/downloads/Accommodation_Costs_Survey.

pdf

3 NUS ‘Negotiating the System’ June 2012 p. 5 4

Postgraduate students also tend to be mature students who are more likely to have caring responsibilities.

Part-time postgraduates are committed to advanced higher education and contribute to the London economy through work, study and research. Never-theless, they struggle with financial challenges and would benefit greatly from travel and Council Tax concessions.

Definition of Part-time StudentsThe definition of a “full-time” student is at least 21 hours of study on a course lasting one year for Council Tax exemption4 and “studying or writing up for 15 or more hours a week5” for postgraduate students entitled to Transport for London discounts.

The National Rail 16-25 railcard is offered to students who attend a university for 15 hours a week for 20 weeks per year6.

It is widely agreed within the higher education sector that the majority of part-time students undertake a similar amount of study intensity as full-time stu-dents thus meeting the threshhold.

Current provision of travel and Council Tax discounts London’s 33 Councils currently recognise the financial difficulty of students and offer Council Tax exemptions for full-time students or part-time students on benefits. Additionally, Transport for London and National Rail offer dis-counts for those in full-time study.

A common complaint of part-time postgraduate students is the inability to access these discounts despite undertaking a significant number of research and study hours. There is provision for travel discounts and partial Coun-cil Tax exemptions for part-time students on very low incomes who are on benefits or who use the Access to Learning Fund. However, many part-time postgraduate students remain unfairly ineligible.

4 gov.uk/council-tax/full-time-students

5 tfl.gov.uk/tickets/14312.aspx

6 16-25railcard.co.uk/eligibility-benefits/mature-students/ 5

Survey of Part-time postgraduates in London

Section 2

This section presents the findings of a London-wide survey of part-time postgraduates undertaken by UCL Union in conjunction with London Higher and the UCL Graduate School.

Aims of the SurveyThe key aims were to (1) determine the relative amount of income Part-time postgraduatess spend on travel and Council Tax, and (2) canvas student opinions on how possible concessions would assist them in their studies.

Survey Methods The survey questions were compiled by UCL Union and London Higher and sent out electronically to student unions and HE representatives between January and February 2013.Preliminary results were drafted in April 2013 and the data tables and charts were completed in May 2013.

Survey profileResponses were received from 1,591 part-time postgraduate students between January and February 2013. They represented 35 London Higher Education Institutions, and a range of UK, EU and International research and taught students participated in the survey. Please note that while international students are not granted a Tier 4 visa to study part-time they may, however, study part-time if they hold an alternate visa.

I do hope authorities appreciate the fact that part time postgraduate students are mainly mature students, who have many commitments in their life, and we have to be extra-committed to do postgraduate courses, some of us struggle to find a balance between study, work, and family commitments, therefore a little incentive and help from authorities would encourage us to continue in higher education.

- survey respondent

6

Survey respondents by domicile and level (n=1,591)

Num

ber

of re

spon

dent

s

Approximately 70% of respondents were registered for research degrees while 30% were following taught courses.

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

UK Other EU International

PG research PG taught

7

I can't afford the criminal fees charged for university study if I pay for it all in one go. This

is why I am a part-time student (allowing me to spread the cost of tuition over two years

instead of one). It is absolutely unfair that as a part-time student I am further penalized

by not being entitled to the Council Tax Discount or Rail fare discounts that full time

students enjoy, especially since I need to spend as much time in London as my full time

neighbours in such activities as library or seminar participation, etc.

- survey respondent

Survey results for part-time postgraduate income, study fees and travel expensesAccording to our survey over 80% of part-time postgraduate students rely on personal sources to fund their studies. Additionally, the majority of those surveyed are employed in sectors with high social impact, such as nursing, healthcare, teaching and paralegal studies.

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

Personal Sources(income from

work/loans/savingsetc)

Employer funding Funding from myuniversity, a UK

Research Councilor a research charity

Funding from non-charitable boby

or homeGovernment

How respondents fund their studies (n=1,620; more than one choice permitted)

Num

ber

of m

entio

ns

10

The income levels of part-time postgraduates surveyed are variable, as might be expected, but 45% of respondents were earning less than £15,000 per annum. This means a substantial number of part-time postgraduate students have less income than if they worked a full-time Living Wage job. Additionally, 23% of those surveyed have dependents.

Income levels for respondents (n=1,423)

0 50 100 150 200 250

£0 - 4,999

£5,000 - 9,999

£10,000 - 14,999

£15,000 - 19,999

£20,000 - 24,999

£25,000 - 29,999

£30,000 - 39,999

£40,000 - 59,000

>£60,000

11

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Research Councils currently provide a minimum tax free living stipend of about £15,700 to funded postgraduate research students living in London7.

The income that self-funding part-time postgraduate students receive is used partly to cover the rising fees of their postgraduate study. Survey respondents reported paying an average of £3,402 per year in fees for UK and EU-reg-istered students. International part-time postgraduate fees average much higher at around £8,196 per year.

From the survey, part-time postgraduates are spending an average of £1,022 on Council Tax each year. Additionally, 86% of respondents utilise public transport to attend their studies, paying £1,326 in annual travel costs.

7 rcuk.ac.uk/media/news/2012news/Pages/121218.aspx

I use a bus pass to travelto and from my studies

5%

Other8%

Travelcardincluding zone 1

63%

Travelcard zones 2 or 34%

I do not require aTravelcard for my studies

4%

I commute fromoutside London

16%

Part-time Postgraduates: Travelcard and other transport options (n=1,352)

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Advantages of extended discounts for part-time postgraduate students Survey respondents detailed the vast potential positive impacts of travel dis-counts and Council Tax exemptions.

A) Transport for London discountsStudent feedback can be themed around three areas for travel: 1. Extended travel discounts would make it more affordable and allow stu-

dents to spend more time at their university, lab, library, rehearsal space and other academic resources, thus positively benefiting their study. For some, the discount would also mean they could cut down on their em-ployment hours to devote more time to study.

2. Extended travel discounts would also have a secondary impact on stu-dent mental health. Affordable travel means part-time postgraduates would feel less stressed and would make them feel more integrated with the mainstream student body, with higher participation in extra-mural activities.

3. Finally, extended travel discounts would allow part-time postgraduates more disposable income which they would utilise on food, books, other study materials and off-campus visits such as field trips.

B) Council Tax exemptionsSimilarly, respondents noted the benefits of Council Tax exemptions. Two clear themes emerged: 1. Improved mental health in terms of stress reduction and lessened feelings

of isolation while trying to combine advanced study and work. 2. Potential savings from discounts could be put towards study materials

and resources, especially considering the high cost of living in London compared with other UK cities.

14

In June 2012 the Mayor of London was asked if he would lobby to extend Transport for London student discounts to part-time PhD students across the capital. He answered ‘no’, explaining that it would not be fair if a part-time PhD student who was in full-time employment should receive such a dis-count8.

It is certainly the case that some part-time researchers are employed while undertaking their studies. Indeed, some part-time postgraduate students are funded by Research Councils, charities or by an employer. However, the overwhelming number of part-time postgraduate students rely on personal sources.

The Mayor cites the Access to Learning Fund or Council Tax Benefit as reme-dies for part-time postgraduates struggling with travel and Council Tax costs. Students whose circumstances and income are below a threshold are given the TfL discounts and Council Tax reductions. Nevertheless, the threshold for eligible low income is less than the average fees paid by part-time postgradu-ate students. If a part-time student is employed at a low salary (<£10-15,000 per year), then the majority of their income is likely to be spent on fees, travel and study materials.

Section 3

Fair Fares for Part-time Postgraduates

As I'm not able to work full time due to my studies I see myself in a position no different to full time students who often have part time jobs and are eligible for financial assistance from various sources. I believe it is unfair not having Council Tax discount for part-time students. I currently attend to an average of 18 hours a week for classes (afternoon and evenings) and need time for readings: it is very unlikely having time to work more than two shifts a week.

- survey respondent

158 mqt.london.gov.uk/mqt/public/question.do?id=41406

Exclusion of EU & International StudentsUnfortunately, International and EU students who have been resident in the UK for less than three years are not eligible for the Access to Learning Fund or UK benefits. Up to 30% of survey respondents are therefore excluded from these forms of support.

Recommendations for Extended DiscountsThe current attitude of TfL and the London Borough councils regarding part-time postgraduate students seems to be founded on the misunderstanding that they are somehow more financially stable than full-time students.

The reverse is true and many part-time postgraduate students are highly concerned that a lack of funding and disposable income may cause them to abandon their studies. Part-time postgraduate students make direct contributions to public, private and third sectors of London’s economy, as well as providing enhanced social capital.

We propose an extension of the Transport for London (TfL), 16-25 Railcard and Council Tax discounts for all part-time postgraduate students.

The proposal aims to provide a degree of equity for all postgraduate students irrespective of part- or full-time mode of study, since all full-time students are already eligible for the same concessions.

All discounts should be made available to EU and International students to ensure overseas students are not discouraged by the high cost of living in London.

As universities currently provide proof of status for full-time students which grants eligibility for the TfL and Council Tax discounts, we believe they coould assist in validating part-time postgraduates discounts.

Regardless of how the extension of discounts is implemented in practice, we suggest part-time postgraduates will benefit greatly by being able to better concentrate on their studies.

16

London’s part-time postgraduates help stimulate the capital’s economy and make social contributions through their research and study. However, they are struggling to cope with London’s high cost of living and increasing fees within a limited postgraduate funding system.

Many part-time students who may have been forced to study part-time due to financial difficulties and personal circumstances feel they are caught in a ‘Catch-22’ situation: They have sufficient income to pay their study fees, yet they are ineligible for benefits or other concessions offered to fully funded full-time students. This is even more frustrating for part-time postgraduate students because they unofficially meet the varied minimum hours of study set by National Rail, TfL and local Councils.

An extension of discounts to part-time postgraduates would help increase their study outputs, contribute positively to postgraduate education by under-represented groups, and reduce stress and isolation for potentially thousands of students.

Extending the travel and Council Tax discounts to students who are employed part-time to fund their fees for postgraduate study would draw them to the same level as fully funded researchers, who receive these discounts.

In short, the extension of discounts to part-time postgraduates is necessary, fair and would have substantial positive benefits for higher education and for London.

Section 3

Conclusions

I have to travel to university every day. Despite my course being called 'part time', I actually work the same number of hours (if not more) as most full time students and have to travel from zone 1-3 at least 6 days a week

- survey respondent

17

A reduction in travel expenses would be a huge benefit to my studies. At the moment, I only visit university once or twice a week because of the expense involved in traveling there. If it were cheaper to travel there, I could make better use of facilities and services such as libraries, workshops, seminars, conferences and networking events, which would be a great benefit to my research.

- survey respondent

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19

Council Tax has been the nightmare of my life for the past three years. I cannot afford to pay and yet no discount/help is applicable to me. I work for more than 25 hours a week on my research and I am not able to take up a full-time job to support my studies. At the moment, I might have to quit my PhD because of the financial strain it puts on me and my partner - and the Council Tax will play a huge part in that decision.

- survey respondent

Tavistock HouseTavistock SquareLondonWC1H 9JB

londonhigher.ac.uk

25 Gordon StreetLondonWC1H 0AY

uclu.org