Don't Bin Bristol Bursaries!
Campaign Factsheet
The University of Bristol is cutting its bursaries for the most under-priviledged students from 2012-13, just as the government is raising student tuition fees.
This campaign factsheet sets out why we think the binning of bursaries is wrong and ways that you can get involved in telling our university not to carry this plan through.
How much did students receive in the past?
If you start studying at the University of Bristol in 2011-12 and your parents are on medium or low incomes, you can claim a maintenance bursary of up to £1,260. If you start in 2012, the cut will mean that you get no extra support at all.
Why will students suffer?
Bristol is an expensive city to live and study in. Average rent in and around the University is £370 per month. Students who are forced to stay in private sector accommodation in the city (such as Unite House) may pay over £500. While the University estimates that it costs more than £10,000 to study at Bristol for a year, the maximum amount of funding available for students from the government is £6,403. Bristol bursaries currently help fill in that gap. Their withdrawal will mean students have to work long hours to keep out of the red with possible negative impacts on their academic performance.
Why is the University of Bristol binning bursaries?
The University has opted to transfer money previously reserved for student bursaries to pay for tuition fee waivers instead. Fee waivers may mean a marginally lower graduate contribution in the long run, but they don’t help students in the here and now. You can’t pay your landlord with a fee waiver!
What can you do about it?
We need you to get involved with our campaign to reverse the cut to Bristol bursaries. Turn up to the Students’ Union or the Info Point on Tyndall Avenue and sign one of our “Don’t Bin Bristol Bursaries” postcards to the Vice Chancellor or you can email Gus Baker, the Students’ Union President, at ubu-president@bristol.ac.uk.
Where can I find out more about the cut to our bursaries?