Changes to HE numbers following the Sept 2012 fees rise
Following the introduction of higher tuition fees for students commencing undergraduate degrees in September 2012 in England, Youthwork can report that numbers commencing Christian Youth Work and Youth Ministry courses only fell slightly – by just under 2%.
In September 2011 the equivalent of 608 full-time students commenced courses at the eleven biggest colleges and Christian training agencies across the UK. In September 2012 the number was 598, a decrease of 1.64%. Whilst most colleges retained their numbers, the arrival of one new provider did mean that another experienced a decline. The implications seem to be that we may have reached a natural ceiling on numbers.
The numbers held up despite the costs of those courses rising from an average of £3197 in September 2011 to £4379 in September 2012, an increase of 37%.
The majority of the courses surveyed are delivered in collaboration with universities and this means that English students generally can access the Student Loan Company and have their university tuition fees paid as a loan, which will then be repaid after finishing the course and when income rises to £21,000.
At the level just below the undergraduate courses, equivalent to A-Levels, there has been an increase in numbers on accredited courses. CYM, who deliver Engage: Youth Ministry, Enable: Schools Work and Engage: Children’s Ministry reported an increase 45 learners commencing courses in September 2012. 135 commenced in Sep11 and 180 in Sep12. Twenty of the new learners are on the new pilot Schools Work course validated by Edexcel and delivered by schoolswork.co.uk.
