4 September 2006
Victoria disappointed at Govt fee decision
The Tertiary Education Commission’s decision to reject Victoria University’s application to increase some student fees
by more than five percent doesn’t address the current industry problem of cross-subsidisation across faculties, and
reduces the level of investment Victoria can make in quality education resources.
Student fees are one of the few sources of revenue the University is able to control, says Chancellor, Emeritus
Professor Tim Beaglehole.
“We are not convinced by the Commission’s arguments that we have not sufficiently demonstrated exceptional
circumstances. Their focus is on approving or declining applications based on percentages, rather than considering the
very real inequitable difference in fees across universities. Fees in Victoria University’s Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences and the Faculty of Education are significantly lower than those of other universities and the extra
five percent increase would move towards making it a more level playing field.”
“If Victoria University was able to charge students the same fees as those at the top of the range, we would be
immediately $20 million per year better off and therefore better able to improve the quality of our infrastructure.”
Emeritus Professor Beaglehole says the University Council is aware of the impact of fee increases on students and made
the decision to increase them with great reluctance. “We are concerned at the long-term effects of continued
cross-subsidisation of students across Faculties where the true cost of providing a research-led degree is not
transparent.
“If the Government is really serious about having highly educated graduates at the forefront of research that is feeding
new industries and innovative technologies, we need the funding to be able to invest in our teaching and research
programmes.”
At Victoria most undergraduate domestic tuition fees increased by five percent in 2006 and the declined application was
for a further five percent increase in tuition fees for domestic students enrolled in humanities, social science or
education courses to apply from the third trimester this year.
ENDS