Things did get a little easier come September 2020, I received my maintenance loan and thankfully the Opportunity Scholarship. I continued working alongside my degree, to be able to replace my old, broken laptop, afford books, join societies and to simply participate in university life.
I’m now in my final year and proud to say I’m predicated a 1st. I once held foolish hopes of continuing my studies here. The tuition fees for my dream MSc course are £13,500. Another I considered and quickly ruled out was priced at £15,300. Currently, the government will loan me £11,836 for my master’s degree; a deficit of £1664 not accounting for living costs I will incur throughout the year. My savings now consumed by the rising cost of living; I’m faced with a hurdle that seems too big to jump. The university seemingly offers a 20% alumni discount for those who are partially self-funding. Upon investigation, you are directed to a webpage detailing a 2% early payment discount, only applicable if paying the cost in full and up front.
Naïvely, I believed my student loan would at minimum cover the cost of tuition fees. I also hoped the university would fulfil its “commitment to providing equality of opportunity across the entire student lifecycle” as detailed in Newcastle University’s Access and Participant Plan for the period 2020-21 to 2024-25. Alas, I am not eligible for any of the master’s scholarships provided by the university. Seemingly, the student lifecycle at Newcastle University ends on completion of an undergraduate degree.
Newcastle University needs to recognise researching inequality is not the same as experiencing it.
As reported by The Courier in 2019, Lucy Backhurst, Director of Student Recruitment, Admissions and Progress was quoted as saying “recruiting and supporting the brightest and best students, regardless of background is a priority for us”. I recognise I am one of many students as I sit here trawling the internet for charitable grants to plug the funding deficit, I’m merely a statistic in an equality report. Newcastle University needs to recognise researching inequality is not the same as experiencing it.
I don’t doubt the university’s Widening Participation Scheme has provided opportunities to many undergraduate students; the PARTNERS scheme is a good start. But access to higher education doesn’t mean fulfilling a quota, it means access to all the experiences which come with attendance of a Russell Group University including the opportunity to progress to postgraduate study, grade permitting. If this university aims to provide an environment in which all students can thrive and reach their potential, regardless of their economic background, they need to start putting their money where their mouth is.