NUS opposed UWS grad fees
The National Union of Students has raised an objection against the graduation fee charged by the University of West of Scotland as a relatively large number of students in the university belongs from disadvantaged areas.
The Paisley-based institution has formed a setup of funds for helping students who may have difficulty to pay the cost of graduation. Steps are taken by the number of universities in order to abolish the fees completely.
Scottish graduates are paying up to £225 to take part in ceremonies, according to the National Union of Students. However, the representatives from the Universities say that the findings of NUS are incorrect and the fees are often much lower than the mentioned cost.
Around 2,500 signatures have been received on the petition against UWS for charging the graduation fees. According to the NUS, the cost of graduation in total is at least £82 which includes £40 graduation fee and the other £42 is the robe cost.
Fulfilling these cost for students who belongs to disadvantage area seems to be difficult and they have to borrow the money from their families if in case they cannot afford to pay themselves.
Even after giving the amount of £11,000 in emergency hardship payments by the Students’ Association the university is continuing to charge for graduation from students who are in an appalling financial condition.
A spokesman said: “At the positive and productive meeting, it was agreed that the university would endeavour to identify strategies that would ultimately allow access to graduation for all students regardless of income.
“In the meantime, a special graduation hardship fund is being created to support eligible students, effective for this summer’s graduation ceremonies.”
Agreeing upon decreasing the cost up to £10 for students who will graduate without attending the ceremony, he further added: “We are fully committed to ongoing engagement on this issue and plan to meet with students and SAUWS again over the coming weeks to look at detailed options relating to future free graduation ceremonies.
“In the meantime, details of the criteria associated with the new graduation hardship fund will be announced to students soon.”
