The Student Lounge

University Complaints Increase by 25%

2009-05-19T08:17:00.000-07:00

The number of complaints made by students about their universities have soared by 25% this year. The rise is believed to be due to a demand in 'value for money', the quality of teaching and allegations of plagiarism. Over 900 complaints were made to the Officer of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education. The rise of tuition fees to £3,000 that was introduced in 2006 is also being blamed for the rise, as students seek to ensure they are getting the best for their money.

So are we really becoming more tight with our wallets? According to a survey by the UK Youth Parliament, yes, as a third of students say they will base their university choice on cost above anything else - many opting for cheaper options during the recession. This has meant that many have chosen to study near home so as not to travel away, to cut costs even further. The simplest solution should be a part time job - 90% of students have considered this, but with the struggles created by the recession 60% feel they will struggle to get one. The UK Youth Parliament has launched a promotional leaflet called 'Access Denied' in a bid to promote the severity of the financial problems which can be downloaded here.

The NUS Awards 2009 are Coming!

2009-05-19T05:49:00.001-07:00

The finalists for this years NUS awards 2009 have been selected. The event, which celebrates student excellence, is being held on June 12 in London. The event is a joint initiative, co-hosted by leading student insurance company, Endsleigh Insurance. Prizes range from £250 - £500. Here are the finalists:

Endsleigh Student of the Year

Richard Amos, National Star College Students’ Union
Lucy Davidson, Anglia Ruskin Students’ Union
Adam Swallow, University of Nottingham Students’ Union

Higher Education Student Unionist of the Year

Lisa Burton, Northumbria Students' Union
Ellie Hopkins, University of Sussex Students’ Union
Alex Nicholson-Evans, University of Bath Students’ Union

Further Education Student Unionist of the Year

Sarah Burton, Castle College Nottingham Students’ Union
Joshua Lindsey-Turner, Exeter College Students’ Union
Harry Shenton, National Star College Students’ Union

Course Representative of the Year

Neruda Barakat, Heriot-Watt University Students’ Association
David Caldwell, Northumbria Students Union
Christopher Seenan and Julie Murdoch, Queen Margaret University Students’ Union

Participation Award

Exeter University Students’ Guild
University of Sheffield Students’ Union
University of Warwick Students’ Union

Campaign of the Year

Anglia Ruskin Students’ Union
Leeds University Union
Reading University Students’ Union

Further Education Students’ Union of the Year

Canterbury College Students’ Union
Castle College Nottingham Students’ Union
Cornwall College Students’ Union

Higher Education Students’ Union of the Year

Anglia Ruskin Students’ Union
Leeds University Union
University of Bath Students’ Union

Equality and Diversity Award

University of Derby Students’ Union
University of Hull Students’ Union
University of Portsmouth Students’ Union

Best Student Media

Forge Media, University of Sheffield
Nouse, University of York
Student Direct, University of Manchester

Student Journalist of the Year

Henry James Foy, University of York
Robert Golledge, University of Sheffield
Liz Rawlings, Edinburgh University

Student Broadcaster of the Year

Anna Bucks, University of York
Mike Tighe, University of Manchester

TSL wishes all the finalists the best of luck!

Au Revoir l'Angleterre!

2009-05-19T04:54:00.000-07:00

As the academic year comes to a close, many Erasmus students will be waving goodbye to the places they've called 'home' for the past year. The Erasmus programme is an educational scheme for students within the EU, wishing to do a year abroad. Over 2 million students have benefited from the grants and bursaries on offer through Erasmus. This ranges from as much as 3425 who travelled to France last year, and as little as 1 student going to Leichtenstein. 31 countries in the EU participate in the scheme, which is known to carry a number of advantages, let alone discovering a new culture and improving your language skills. To get more insight, we spoke to Laurie Vanhuysse, a 19 year old French student from Lille, who has spent the past 8 months in the UK at Canterbury Christ Church University studying English.

Laurie returns to her university in France, L'Université Catholique de Lille for her 3rd and final year of English studies - Laurie also told us that she would love to come back and live in Canterbury, thanks to the opportunity Erasmus has given her to embrace the English culture. Below is a map to show the distance Laurie has travelled.

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Murdoch: 'The current days of the internet will soon be over.'

2009-05-18T08:12:00.000-07:00

As students on tight budgets, it's important to save every penny possible in our three to four years of studying. Most of us use the internet to curve these expenses - some methods more legal than others. The average student has around 800 illegally downloaded tracks on their iPod. However, it seems other businesses are finding ways to force us to cough up the cash on the internet.

Many of you may have found alternatives to save money, such as reading the newspaper online for free as apposed to buying it. But this could radically change next year as the owner of News Corp, Rupert Murdoch says having free newspaper websites online is a 'flawed' business model. News Corp is responsible for 'The Sun', 'News of The World', 'The Times' and 'The Times on Sunday', all of which could be transformed into an online subscription service next year. Many have criticised the plans, saying they'll simply go elsewhere but Billionaire Murdoch is convinced it can fix a 'malfunctioning' business model based on the growing success of the 'Wall Street Journal's' online subscription in the US.

And this isn't our own worry. Thousands of students avoid the TV licence by watching TV online through the BBC iPlayer but Erik Huggers, the corporation's director of future media and technology believes that 'if you are using the iPlayer you have to be a television licence fee payer. I don't believe in a free ride. If you are consuming BBC services then you have to be a licence holder.' At the moment, you only need a TV licence if you're watching channels from a standard living TV set or watching live streams of any of the BBC channels online - pre-recorded content is not included in the licence, which currently costs £139.50.

If these costly plans go ahead, it could spell the end of the free internet we know so well.

First Ever International Sign Language Degree Starting in Edinburgh

2009-05-14T05:40:00.000-07:00

A Groundbreaking new degree in International Sign Language is launching at Edinburgh's Heriot-Watt university in the 2009/2010 academic year.

The course's programme director, Professor Turner, said in a press release on the university's website, “I’m immensely proud that Heriot-Watt University is focusing on the future, recognising that deaf people are visible internationally as never before, and is putting its energy into such a progressive, scholarly and professionally applicable programme. ith our hugely experienced Finnish and German partners, we have designed a course to harvest and transmit good practice, leading to greater understanding between deaf and hearing people all over Europe”.

British Sign Language is the primary communication for around 90,000 people in the UK. The course prides itself for it's unique structure, making it unlike any other sign language course. It allows students to learn and compare a number of sign languages from other countries. Students will also be able to interpret at major international events including United Nations, European Parliament, academic and professional conferences.

Students Told: iPod Touch or iPhone 'Compulsory'

2009-05-12T18:03:00.000-07:00

When you started your course, was you worried about hitting the required grades? Well, at a University in the United States, students have been told an iPod Touch or an iPhone is a 'course requirement' in the journalism programme at the University of Missouri.

But why would a university demand such an expensive gadget? With the fastly growing technology, the journalism department is using it as a way to distribute audio lecture files freely through the iTunes store which operate all iPod devices. Similar technology is already used in around 50 other universities in the US. Officials have confirmed that they will not enforce the rule however. The idea is to give the device "special status" so that financially assisted students can purchase one with their busary. In the courses handbook it is stated that there are other 'alternatives' to the Apple devices, both of which are owned by more than 30 million people worldwide - but other devices are considered 'less capable'. The journalism handbook also stresses a preference to Apple MACs if students choose to own a laptop, meanwhile the Windows based PC is 'not recommended'. MAC is known to be prefered for photo, video and audio editing at universities in the UK too, such as Bournemouth University and Canterbury Christ Church.

Where is the University of Missouri?

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Students Strike in France

2009-05-11T05:30:00.000-07:00

French students striking against new university regulations in France have esculated to its 15th week. Around 25% of students and staff in state-run universities have been staging the protests, which could have a serious impact on the forthcoming exams due to lack of teaching.

The dispute originally started after plans were established to change the control held by university presidents - but since France's president, Nicholas Sarkozy, was elected in 2007, the plans have spiraled to a complete overhaul of the higher education system in France. His vision is to allow universities independent power and governance, much like commerical businesses, and to make them more competitive. But students and staff alike are strongly apposed to this "right-wing ideology".

Universities in France run significantly different to British ones. France has 83 state-run universities, all of which have no extorionate tuition fees. Across the channel, British Universities are all private and charge £3,145 per year to study at all universities full time. The only time French students pay so much is if they decide to study privately for a more prestigious education. This means that students from the poorest communities in France have a chance at higher education without the worries of money.

Xavier Darcos, France's Minister of Education, has said that a handful of students have succeeded in distrupting some universities and those students will not be awarded their degrees.

Swine Flu Fears

2009-05-07T06:01:00.000-07:00

Students across the country are being warned about the dangers of the deadly Swine Flu virus sweeping the world. The virus breakout, which originated from Mexico, is currently at Phase 5 status (just 1 phase away from being a pandemic).
Students at Canterbury Christ Church University recieved urgent e-mails providing guidance and precautions to protect yourself. Five schools across the UK have been forced to close to prevent the spread of the H1N1 virus. 34 cases have been confirmed by the Department of Health in the UK alone, with 42 confirmed deaths in Mexico.

Swine Flu is a mixture of bird, pig and human flu which have mutated together. The virus is very much like ordinary flu, but can be fatal as proven in Mexico. As such, it is advised that you do not travel to Mexico. For more information and advice, you can download this NHS leaflet.

50% of Deaths on the Roads of Kent are Young Females - in the Passenger seat of a Young Male Driver

2009-03-23T05:43:00.000-07:00

Student drivers are being urged to take extra caution when driving. Shocking statistics have revealed that teenage girls are more likely to die behind the wheel of a teenage boy driver. A campaign promoting better safety among younger drivers has been touring Kent. We went to Canterbury Ambulance Service station to investigate.

For more information on better road safety, click here.

Potter Star to Study Abroad?

2009-03-18T18:07:00.000-07:00

Young-actress Emma Watson (famous for playing 'Hermione Granger' in the Harry Potter films) could be about to cross the pond for her studies. Watson, 18, has looked at a number of universities in the United States as well as some in the UK. Reports suggest that she has been offered a place at Yale, ranked one of the world's top universities. She has also been offered a place on home soil at the prestigious Cambridge University.

Emma is one of thousands of British students who have had enough of the wind and rain of the UK when you can get constant sun abroad. In fact, more than 20,000 Brits enrol at universities outiside the UK every year - the most popular destination being the US. Plus, there are about 8,000 British students studying in the US already today.

You must be thinking, ok, this is quite a big jump! Just last week TSL spoke about commuting but this is extreme distance! This is very true, as anyone wishing to study abroad needs to be fully independent and have enough money to survive. However, the financing schemes in the US are a lot more accessible than here in the UK. You would have to contact the specific universities financial aid advisors about this, as the schemes vary from university to university.

Plus, the applications for American universities are very different to that of our very own UCAS. There is a lot more detail and thought needed in these applications and the ability to sell yourself is essential.

And unfortunately you'll need to undergoe more tests! Every American unverisity requires that you take the SATS (not like the ones you did in year 2, 6 and 9) which determines whether you are ready for university. So abit like the ALIS tests if your school or college did those, but more serious and important.

Anyone considering studying abroad should think long and hard - Miss Watson may be able to afford a private jet back and forth to her parents when she needs them, but can you?

If you haven't heard or seen Yale before, watch the video below to have a short tour.

Commuting

2009-03-12T06:00:00.000-07:00

It can be hard to deny the fun and freedom of moving away from home. But there is also the familiar option of staying at home and commuting which some believe to be much cheaper - but is it really the best option?

TSL spoke to Gemma Littlewood, a criminology student from Rainham, Kent who commutes to London 3 times a week for her studies. "It costs me about £30 a week", she tells us. "The train service is good provided it actually arrives on time".
Do students who commute like Gemma miss out on the action around uni? "No, if there is ever anything on, I stay at a friends who lives there so I never miss out".
Gemma also gets around £10 off her train journey with her 16-25 railcard. Commuting into university isn't such a bad idea it seems. What about early starts? "Well, twice a week I have to get up at 6am - and it takes me about an hour to travel. Plus I get caught up in the rush hour".

So to way up the pros and cons of commuting:

You save a lot of time and money as you don't have to buy food or pay for rent, just travel
Close family support is always at hand
Save even more money with railcards

Cons:

Waste time traveling into university - and sometimes very early starts.
May miss out on parties because the trains finish early
Travel time can be boring (although, you could do some work if you manage to find a seat!)
Trains can be late or delayed - potentially affecting your studies and attendance if a regular occurance!

TSL recommends:

If you live around an hour away, maybe you should consider commuting because it can save a lot of time and effort. But if you live any further, or enjoy spending lots of time with your friends you should consider living away, closer to university. And remember, if you do commute, get a 16-25 railcard as you can save so much money with it.