Liberal Democrats show support for part-time students

The Liberal Democrats, at their conference last week, voted for a motion to ensure a fairer deal for part-time students when the new fees and funding system comes into force in 2012.

From 2012, for the first time, part-time students, studying between 25% and 75% intensity of a full-time course, will be offered government loans to pay the cost of their tuition fees. However, unlike full-time students who will not pay back their loans until they have finished their degree, part-time degree students will have to begin paying back their loans while they are still studying.

Birkbeck academic, Belinda Brooks-Gordon, who is also a Liberal Democrat councillor on Cambridgeshire County Council, worked with Baroness Sal Brinton to put a motion to the party conference, to review the repayment dates for part-time students.  Conference delegates voted overwhelmingly in favour of the policy.

Professor David Latchman CBE, Master of Birkbeck, said: “We are delighted that the Liberal Democrats have recognised the need to review government policy on part-time student loans. If the maximum part-time loan is 75% of a full-time loan, then we would like students studying at 75% intensity to be given the chance to complete their studies before they begin repaying their loans, which would mean a repayment date of 4.5 years after taking the loan. This would bring their repayment date in line with those full-time students who take four years to complete their programme, such as modern languages students, or those who undertake a placement year.”

 Belinda Brooks-Gordon, who herself studied as a mature, part-time student said: “I am delighted that members and supporters gave their support to this motion. I want to make sure that all students are getting the best possible deal to allow them to accept places on higher education no matter what their circumstances. With the support from conference, we have taken a major step forward in getting this policy changed.

 “I took my degree as a single parent with two children and would not have had my career without my university education.”