Students blame poor teaching over degrees
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Growing numbers of students are lodging official complaints against their universities if they fail to obtain a top-level degree.
More are contacting the universities' official watchdog, blaming the standard of teaching they received for their failure to achieve a first (1:1) or 2:1 degree pass.
The trend, reflecting a mood among some students that rising fees mean they are effectively buying a degree, is expected to spread in the autumn when universities begin charging up to £9,000 a year.
However, Universities Secretary, David Willetts, who revealed the rise in complaints during a lecture to the right-wing think-tank Politeia yesterday, insisted: "They're paying for higher education – they're not paying for a degree. One of the increasing areas of complaints is students saying: 'I've got a 2:2 when I should have got a 2:1 – they've let me down.'"
The students' concern stems from many potential employers no longer looking at candidates who have lower than a 2:1 degree.
Not all disgruntled students will qualify for an official investigation by the Office of the Independent Adjudicator. To do so, they have to satisfy the OIA that they have exhausted the internal appeals procedures of their university.
Mr Willetts rejected a suggestion that the Government should be increasing student numbers at a time of recession.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments