Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 23 May 2000

Vol. 519 No. 5

Written Answers. - Third Level Fees.

Richard Bruton

Question:

315 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the details of the charges for comparable distance degree courses by Irish universities and by overseas providers such as the Open University in Britain; if his attention has been drawn to the claim that Irish charges are 50% dearer; and if he will have investigations made into the basis of charges used by Irish institutions to ensure that they do not impede the take up of such options. [14110/00]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods):

‘Oscail', the National Distance Education Centre, was established in 1982 with the aim of widening access to programmes of study leading to qualifications at diploma, degree and post-graduate level.

To attain the bachelor of arts degree the cost for a student is approximately £4,200 which includes 12 course modules and an introductory module. To attain the IT degree the cost for a student is approximately £4,900 which includes 14 course modules and an introductory module.

The open university offers all of its degree programmes in this State. I have had inquiries made to its offices and the open university indicated that the cost of an IT degree to a student from this State would be around Stg£4,500 and an arts degree would be around Stg£4,200. The costs of such courses would be reduced by around 40% for UK residents. The open university indicated that just under half of their courses also involve a residential component and that this would also increase costs. The open university operates on a scale much larger than the scale on which the National Distance Education Centre operates.

Together with Oscail, the Higher Education Authority hosted a symposium on open and distance learning in higher education in March of this year. It is clear that there is much potential for higher education institutions to develop open and distance learning programmes in Ireland and I look forward to receiving the report on the symposium and recommendations for the development of open and distance learning in Irish higher education from the Higher Education Authority.