Update June 2010

Students are annoyed, and they want change within the University. SUARTS are campaigning to ensure that any additional course costs (on top of tuition fees) are upfront, transparent and reasonable.

// What are we doing?

SUARTS are campaigning to ensure that any additional course costs (on top of tuition fees) are upfront, transparent and reasonable – this means additional course costs should be stated on all Entry Profiles, there should be no compulsory fees further to those stated, there should be support and structured programmes in place to help students with their fundraising and sponsorship and student should receive a breakdown of what their additional fees have been spent on.

 // Why are we doing this?

 Currently additional course costs are administered on an ad hoc basis that varies widely across different colleges and courses – some students are asked to pay £100 towards materials at the beginning of each term. After this, the extra costs students are asked to pay could be almost anything - often sprung upon students with little or no notice and at difficult times of the year, the system is unfair and needs to change.

We accept that costs for materials must come from somewhere, but if students are going to be asked to pay for something which they need for their course, the University needs be upfront, transparent and reasonable. Something which currently does not happen.

// How are we doing this?

//More Information

> SUARTS Hidden Course Costs paper presented to the University April 2010

> SUARTS Hidden Course Costs photo stream, planning documents and advice for other SUs

> Watch the campaigns video - 'A Fistful of Course Costs'

> If you have any questions or would like to get involved email campaigns@su.arts.ac.uk

So far we have collected raw data from students across the University to highlight the amount that students are paying in hidden costs. This was presented to the University and has finally ben acknowledged as a real issue that needs to be addressed. During term 2 Hidden Costs went on tour and hundreds of you had your photo taken showing your anger and surpise at these costs. SUARTS has presented a paper to the University explaining the current situation and what steps they must take to address student concenrs. A campaign video, above, has been created and the pressure has been kept on the University to implement the agreements they have made.

// What have we achieved?

As a result of our campaigning the University has made the following agreements.

• To include information about course costs in UCAS profiles for the first time
• To publish transparent financial information about the material fees it charges some students
• To work with SUARTS to collect data about  additional course costs and publish this in the next academic year.

// What can you do?

• Report any ‘surprise’ costs that you are asked to cover this year by emailing campaigns@su.arts.ac.uk

• Visit the Facebook group to see our Hidden Course Costs tour tinyurl.com/UALhiddencosts

• Share the video above with all your friends