Degree restructure must include fee relief and income support measures

The University of Melbourne has released a strategy proposal that, if pursued across the sector, will restrict access to education and professional careers to the privileged few.

"The proposal of a two-tiered degree system, comprising a generalist undergraduate degree and a specialist postgraduate qualification, is worth exploring. However, the implications of this proposal when linked to the current Australian higher education fee structure are alarming," said CAPA President Stephen Horton.

Already, many students are discouraged from pursuing a university degree by the high debt incurred under the HECS loan system. These students will not be in a financial position to incur further debt through the full-fee loans necessary to fund a postgraduate coursework qualification. In addition, while some undergraduate students are able to access commonwealth income support, this is not available to postgraduate coursework students.

The University of Melbourne refers to the need to align academic programs with those in the US and Europe. The Bologna Process in Europe has generated similar concerns that many postgraduate professional qualifications will be out of reach for students who cannot afford the fees. However, the Bologna process does contain core social and equity provisions, now widely missing in the Australian higher education system.

If a restructure of the Australian degree system is to be considered, it must include the extension of commonwealth funded places and commonwealth funded income support to all postgraduate coursework students.