THE UNIVERSITY pledged to cut asylum seeker tuition fees which are currently £12,000 a year in a dramatic climb-down last week.
Vice-Chancellor Alan Gilbert said those fleeing persecution abroad should not be forced to pay bumper fees that many of them can scarcely afford.
Only two universities in the country currently offer 'home' fees of £ 3,000 a year to asylum seekers.
The University of Manchester will be the first top Russell Group uni to offer lower fees to those who have fled their homeland, if the radical reforms are pushed through.
The Students' Union has been lobbying for asylum seekers to be exempt from paying international fees for the last two years. Under the current system they have to pay four times as much to study as UK and EU nationals.
After the parties concerned appeared to have reached an impasse on the issue, Alan Gilbert revealed during an open meeting with students last Wednesday that proposals had finally been put to the University's finance committee to scrap the international fees.
He stated that he fully expected them to be accepted during the coming week.
Under the proposals asylum seekers will still be classed as international students, but will be entitled to bursaries that will in effect make their fees equivalent to those of home students.
The news was greeted warmly by the Students' Union, with campaigners delighted with their victory.
Gilbert acknowledged that student campaigning had been pivotal in bringing the issue to the attention of those in power and in influencing the outcome of decision-making.
Referring to student democracy he said: "I want students to be involved so that they can genuinely influence policy and priority."
He added that further plans are under consideration to improve the provision of scholarships for other international students.
Andy Cunningham, the Students' Union Campaigns Officer, said he was delighted the university had pledged to charge home fees for refugees.
"There are only two universities in the country that offer asylum seekers home fees at the moment," he said.
"In terms of Russell Group universities Manchester is going to be the first. There are not many asylum seekers studying in the UK at the moment – they can't afford it.
"They have to pay £12,000 a year and they cannot afford it unless they can get sponsorship."
Hi
As menttioned in the article, does anyboy know which two universities charge asyslum seekers home rate fee.
Many thanks
This is an amazing action,thanks to all who really want to help asylum seekers and their children to get their aducation going. They really want to study and be useful citizen of this country but they can't afford the fees ,unless they get sponsorship.
Help now if you can you will get a help in time of need!
I can see a window opening for me to finally study towards a masters degree in computing ...
DOES ANYONE KNOW IF I CAN GET SPONSORSHIP TOWARDS UNIVERSITY AS I HAVE BEEN CHARGED HOME FEES.I REALLY WANT TO ACHIEVE SOMETHING, I WANT TO GO TO UNIVERSITY AND I AM DETERMINED TO REACH MY DESTINY.THE SKY IS THE LIMIT BUT IT SEEMS LIKE ALL MY DREAMS WILL BE SHUTTERED AS I CANT AFFORD THE FEES.I AM AN ASYLUM SEEKER.
PLEASE HELP, IM STRESSED.
Unbelivable. Thank goodness I'm getting out of this place soon.
it is an excellent move , we have been campaigning for this since long and thanks to those who put this proposal for this including vice chancellor Alan, and congratulations to student unions who struggle for it, young asylum seekers and children of asylum seekers will find a way to get their education going and will become useful citizen of this country
Watch this space to see whom the university will claim those lost funds from.