UCA response to Browne Review

Professor Elaine Thomas, Vice-Chancellor of the University for the Creative Arts (UCA), has issued the following statement regarding the Browne Review:

“The University for the Creative Arts has mixed views about Lord Browne’s recommendations to either increase tuition fees or remove the cap to let university’s set their own.

“On the one hand, we acknowledge that, in the current economic climate, a review of HE finding is necessary and raising tuition fees represents the best way forward. However we must make certain that the increased cost to students and their families does not stop any talented people from going to university.

“Mechanisms must be put in place to enable students to study at the institution of their choice otherwise I fear we could create a generation of wasted talent.

“UCA will be working hard to make sure the fees it sets represent good value for money while maintaining the high quality education that we are known for.

“We are sympathetic to the extra financial burden that will soon be placed on students which is why UCA has developed a portfolio of scholarships and bursaries to help support individuals who show great creative potential.

“We would be deeply worried if STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and maths) continued to receive extra funding from the government. Creative industries contribute almost £60bn to the economy and, even in these difficult times, are set to grow at more than double the rate of the rest of the economy, so we will campaign hard to ensure that we receive funding to make sure we continue to produce world-class graduates for the sector.

“We would heartily welcome Lord Browne to remove the cap on student numbers as this will finally give UCA the opportunity to respond to the huge demand for places on its courses (55% increase in applications last year) and allow us to grow as an institution to become the world-class, creative arts university that we are striving to be.”