Financial problems to blame for low number of British postgraduate students, says report

The report warns that higher fees and little financial support are putting graduates off further study. British graduates are the least likely in Europe to go on to further study - fewer than 10% of graduates take up a postgraduate course; the lowest in Europe.

UCU said it agreed with the report's warnings that debt levels were likely to put students off and warned higher fees would only exacerbate the problem.
 
UCU General Secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'This is a timely and welcome report as we must address fairness and social mobility in the neglected area of postgraduate study. Postgraduate skills are drivers of innovation and growth and employers increasingly seek postgraduate qualifications. We have to ensure postgraduate study is an option for all students who wish to pursue it - not just those who can afford to.
 
'We must look at the financial support available because the current system only works for those who can afford to pay or are lucky enough to get one of the dwindling numbers of supported places. If we don't we will remain the sick man of Europe when it comes to postgraduate study.'