From: rswiftrw@cc.curtin.edu.au (Rod Swift)
Newsgroups: aus.students.overseas
Subject: Re: Australian Universities failed
Date: 31 Jul 92 08:20:02 GMT
Organization: -=[ Curtin University of Technology ]=-  Perth, Australia

In article <1992Jul31.103821.1@cc.curtin.edu.au>, tsuanian@cc.curtin.edu.au writes:

> In article <1992Jul30.231601.1@cc.curtin.edu.au>, rswiftrw@cc.curtin.edu.au (Rod Swift) writes:

>> I'd estimate the cost to average out to around $14,000 per student.

> So why am I charged $14,000?. As you said ON AVERAGE it probably
> cost $14000 for a Postgraduate course. Some research project costs
> more, some costs less.  So why cant we pay for the resources we use
> only?.

You may have answered your own question.  I am annoyed that it only costs $2500
to fund my course, and the HECS system is supposed to cover 20% of your course
costs.

Theoretically, my HECS and the other gov't funding is subsidising places in
science and technology fields.

Similarly, the postgrad's are charged all the same, as the university and
government thinks it is more equitable.

It would not be attractive to have all the people studying in the science
and technology fields doing research to pay for the technological equipment
in these fields.

We would get a serious imbalance, with people choosing the "cheaper" courses
both at an undergrad and postgrad level.

And didn't you say research benefitted Australia?  Without scientific research
there would be little benefit.

> Why do I have to help fund the projects that cost more?. 

Because of the very poor, and somewhat equitable reasons above.  Please tell
me if in your homeland, a similar system is applied as in Australia, where
postgrads pay roughly the same for their courses whether it is an expensive
course or not...

> in most undergraduate courses. You pay for the units you take.
> Not for being enrolled in a semester.  Why cant a simmilar system 
> be appiled to us?

CUPSA is working on that one.
 
>> Hmmm.  I would say that the research benefits both Australia, the nation from
>> which the student is from (as they will no doubt return their expertise to
>> their homeland) and to the University.

> True, so whats your point?

Nothing.  Just clarifying something.  However, if the Aust Govt was to charge
$60,000 for science postgrads to study, I bet business and social sciences would
have a huge influx of postgrads....

Therefore, the govt opted for the equal fees for all courses.

>>> O.K so we've established that we dont feel the charges are justified.
>>> Now who can we talk to to get some straight answers?
>>> Guild Rep? ha! Overseas student rep? Ha! Overseas student office? HA!

>> I gather you have talked to none of these groups of people?

> Not going to argue with you here, admittedly I don't try very hard
> to talk to them.

You are talking to one now.  Want me to put it to the CUPSA people and OSD?
Or even OSAWA?

Rod
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Newsgroups: aus.students.overseas