Nick Barnett, a postgrad student at Liverpool John Moore's is seeking to change the funding system for postgrad students in the UK and would like as much support as possible. Nick has created a group on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=63866006200#/group.php?gid=6386600.... His introduction there reads as follows.

Please read the below and send a letter to David Lammy, at the address below, to pursue the issue.

Currently the UK has no provision for postgraduate students to receive a student loan on the same terms as undergraduates.

This wastes the potential of many who are deterred from pursuing professional qualifications. Others, who do pursue Postgraduate education, are forced to delay their careers while they take their courses on a part-time basis; this is usually combined with low paid work.

The extension of university education to previously excluded people, whilst commendable and of great benefit to the population, has meant that more people now see postgraduate and professional qualifications as a prerequisite for embarking on their chosen career. Unless the candidate has the money to pay for fees, often in the region of £4000-£6000 per year, and for their living expenses, the vast majority of people are being hindered or excluded from their professional career. Research has shown that poorer people are more likely to abstain from continuing education due to lack of funds. This reinforces a new system of inequality, where postgraduate education is only open to a small amount of people who receive scholarships or whose parents have the money to pay for them.

If a person was to pursue a masters and PhD on a part time basis it would take at least 8 years. During that time the person would lose out on four years earnings potential in comparison to another person who can afford the fees, or receives funding to embark on a full time program. If a loans program were in place they would be able to complete their course in a shorter time, being able to pay back their loan sooner and earning more taxable income over the course of their careers. Both of these results would benefit the government and wider tax-paying public.

Please send a letter to David Lammy, Minister of State for higher education. Tell him that people need this to pursue their careers. The lack of a fair loans system holds back people who are more than capable of achieving these qualifications. We only want an equal chance to fulfil our potential.

Mr D Lammy
Minister of state for Higher Education,
DIUS,
Kingsgate House,
66-74 Victoria Street,
London.
SW1E 6SW.

If you wish to write to other MPs as well please do so, but message Nick Barnett to let me know about it, so that we know who has been approached. We are not affiliated to any political party, we just want opportunity for all.

I already have support from Mrs Louise Ellman, Labour MP for Liverpool Riverside. She wants this to become an issue and is submitting questions to parliament on our behalf.
If we keep up relentless pressure the government will have to act.

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