This really is a genuine scandal

@michael_merrick It will be absolutely fine. Because the alternative is the UK Government accepting that the £9k fee cap is insufficient for universities to survive, and therefore take the highly unpopular step of raising it.

@michael_merrick I work in a Uni Currently undergoing a Voluntary Redundancy Scheme aimed at cutting staff by up to 20%. If that doesn't work we've been told to expect compulsory redundancies. We have a new campus built on the promise of the student boom - it's now a milestone round our neck.

@michael_merrick For the internet the foundation course isn’t the same course as the degree one that locals apply to but a 1 year scheme to bleed money out of international students. If university is important it should be funded properly then this is not required.

@michael_merrick Reduce University placements to only the top few % but fully fund these places out of taxation. Invest in Apprenticeships and work placed based education (to degree and post graduate level) for everyone bar the absolute top academically capable.

@michael_merrick Unfortunately it wouldn’t have survived this long without overseas students essentially carrying the overheads! 💷 doesn’t grow on trees & needs to come from somewhere! Alternative is that our Unis start to charge the same as the US and students graduate with $250k in debt!

@michael_merrick Maybe take some time to research the university funding situation?

@michael_merrick I mean it’s clearly not fair but to suggest the sector is at risk is laughable

@michael_merrick Haven’t read the article but this doesn’t look like a straight comparison. Do these foundation courses guarantee a place on the same degree course if completed? Do they credibly raise the standard to match UCAS entry levels? What does these foundation courses cost?