NUT/NUS Hidden Costs Campaign
It's expensive being a student these days - the average debt for students graduating after 3 years of study in 2009 is now at £17,500. For the students who started their studies this year, they are expected to graduate with £24,000.
With the cap expected to be removed from the Top Up fees soon, this situation is set to get much worse. At the moment it is expected that the Top Up cap being removed will lead to some Universities charging up to £7000 a year in fees.
So in summary, Uni costs a fortune. And yet when you go on your school placements during your course, you end up having to spend more.
Often the placement schools you are sent to are much further away from home than university is, and often transport links aren't as strong as they are near Uni.
Often, trainee teachers arrive at their placement school, only to find they have to pay for additional things that should already be there, like chalk, crayons or resources. On top of that, there are the additional sports kit or lab coats required just to be able to teach, and after a while all these hidden costs start to add up!
So, why is it that after paying all these fees, student teachers are then expected to shell out once again simply to participate in an essential and compulsory part of their course?
Are you facing hidden costs as part of your teaching placement? For example, travel expenses to your school placement? Paying out of your own money for books and toys?
In a nutshell, that's why the NUT and NUS have collaborated on the Hidden Costs Campaign, to raise awareness of this issue. We believe that Universities should assist students in paying these costs, after all, you wouldn't hear of being asked for additional lecture hall rental fees or being told you had to pay extra to use the Faculty library, so why put up with additional placement payments?
Join the NUT/NUS Hidden Costs Campaign!
Step 1: Spend 5 minutes filling in this questionnaire
Step 2: Print off this letter, fill it in and send it to your MP
Step 3: Hold a Hidden Costs Campaign Workshop at your University - visit the resources centre for society modules and posters
Step 4: Join our Facebook Cause to raise awareness of the campaign
Step 5: Encourage your course mates to get involved too!
