A DECISION is looming over whether the University of Chester will follow a growing number of universities and raise its tuition fees.
Anxious students, faced with a number of other North West universities already having hiked their fees, are to be told by next week whether Chester’s university will follow suit.
A University of Chester spokesman said nothing had yet been ruled out, including whether to begin charging the maximum fees of £9,000 a year for undergraduate courses starting in 2012.
The university’s vice-chancellor Professor Tim Wheeler added: “We’re still consulting with our relevant stakeholders on the issue of student fees and will be looking to make announcement towards the end of next week.”
Other regional universities which have begun charging maximum fees include Liverpool John Moores University, the University of Liverpool, Manchester University and the University of Central Lancashire.
However, Chester Students’ Union president Dechlan Jarrett said he was sure if fees did go up, the university would do its best to keep up its cost-value.
He said: “I am told the decision will be confirmed in a couple of weeks. Whatever decision is taken by the university, we as a students’ union have to make sure first of all the demands of students and staff alike are kept by the university. Whichever university chooses to charge the higher fees, the students or customers really have to know where their money is going and what is going to happen in terms of development. The academic quality is what should be focused on primarily.”
Mr Jarrett, who declined to comment on whether he expected fees to rise or stay the same, added: “If the fees did go up it would be in-line with a lot of other North West universities, like John Moores.
“But in my opinion, the uni have been pretty receptive to students, so the decisions they make will obviously be based on the financial position of the university.
“I’m happy to say they have taken the students’ needs and considerations into consideration.
“Regarding the whole situation of tuition fees, everyone needs to be totally educated about it and not just listen to one side.”