International student placement fees slashed

An Executive Officer from the University of Manchester Students’ Union (SU) is on course to achieve a key manifesto pledge of lowering the international tuition fee for students on industrial placements.

Riddi Viswanathan, the SU’s Executive Officer for International Students, announced in a Facebook post that the University of Manchester’s Teaching and Learning team will take on her recommendations of charging international students the same amount in percentage terms as home students for year-long industrial placements.

The University of Manchester (UoM) currently charges 50% of the international tuition fee for an international student on a placement year. However, home students are often charged around 15% to 19% of their tuition fee.

International students studying at UoM are currently charged £18,500 for ‘non-laboratory’ undergraduate degrees and £23,000 for STEM degrees, with charges varying depending on the course.

Stuti Sethi, a part-time International Students’ Officer who travelled to Manchester from India for her undergraduate and postgraduate degrees said: “International Students on placement years have to pay 50% of the tuition fees which is extremely high when compared to other Russell group Universities. This step taken by Riddi brings relief to such International students. This is another feather in her cap, I’m so proud.”

Viswanathan also announced that the Teaching & Learning Team are considering flexible resits for international students. Exam resits at UoM currently have to be done in August on certain dates, which can be difficult for students who live in a foreign country and have to fly back to Manchester.

As an ex-international student from India, Viswanathan studied Business and Economics at UoM. During her tenure as an Executive Officer, she has committed herself to ‘enhancing employment prospects for international students’ and ‘enriching’ their educational experience.

Viswanathan sits as part of a ‘differential attainment’ working group where she learnt that that placement years helped international students perform better. This then encouraged her to campaign to reduce the fee, a key barrier for students who want to take on a placement year.

Viswanathan told The Mancunion that she was “extremely proud” and “elated” that the Teaching and Learning team were taking her proposals forward.

She added: “International tuition fee should be a national agenda. International student voices are often ignored by the mainstream media and policymakers. International students issues should be international student-led.”

Stuti Sethi, a part-time International Students’ Officer who travelled to Manchester from India for her undergraduate and postgraduate degrees said: “International Students on placement years have to pay 50% of the tuition fees which is extremely high when compared to other Russel group Universities. This step taken by Riddi brings relief to such International students. This is another feather in her cap, I’m so proud.”