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Private school pupils 'may get less time with tutors when moving on to university'

Posted on 25th August 2009

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Independent school leavers may be among the students who end up not having enough time with their tutors at university.

The British Education Studies Association (Besa) has pointed out that financial difficulties may result in less contact between undergraduates and their teachers.

When discussing the potential for cuts in funding for higher education, Ray Barker, director of Besa, explained many are given money as a central government resource, but it can also be dependent on their research status.

Funding strains on universities may mean that institutions are encouraged to become research facilities, which could impact on student learning, he continued.

"If they are being pushed to go along a research route to get their funding, then the students on regular courses are not going to have as much time with their professors [or] their tutors, as they would be used to having," Mr Barker commented.

As a result, it is no surprise there is waning satisfaction with courses, he remarked.

Michael Arthur, incoming head of the Russell Group, recently told the Financial Times universities should reduce the number of students instead of cutting the resources available to them. ADNFCR-921-ID-19329114-ADNFCR