Listening to: Time Consumer, Coheed and Cambria
Thinking of:
So engineering school organised a day long career guidance thing for MSc students and attendence is regarded as compulsary for the day long program which was placed right smack in the middle of the busiest time of the year where most students would have at least an assignment due in every week.
Well, frankly thats past so I'm not going to care too much.
And then, the Foreign Office has raised the price of student visas for students outside of the EU from 36 pounds to 85 pounds, citing the growing demand and administration costs. However the Guardian reports that the Home Office however is considering upping the game by increasing the charge of visa renewal from 155 pounds to 400 pounds.
Foreign students however contribute 10.2 billion pounds to the British economy per year on top of the 4 billion pounds a year to higher education itself. The value of foreign students towards higher education assuming the numbers remain roughly the same would be 15% a year no thanks to increase of fees and what nots. Considering that the inflation rate in 2003 was something along the lines of 1.4%, it is hard to justify the increase of 15% other than labelling foreign students as cash cows.
The easy argument for the British are that foreign students don't pay taxes to the government. However when you consider not only the ammount paid but the red tape evoked upon foreign students to require basic needs and requirements like banking, jobs and renting of property, it does not seem justifiable to say "Foreign students don't pay taxes." Well for one, it's bollocks... to a certain extent whatever I "earn" from my bank accounts, a portion of which is deducted off as tax taking into regard that I've been in the country for slightly more than 3 years and hence I'm now taxable. I've known of some parents who have gotten permanant residence status in the country and pay tax while still having to pay the full 10 grand a year in university fees.
2/3rds of international students have found struggles in job applications as compared to 1/4 of EU students due to their status as internationals (work permit issue)or the lack of the national insurance number. Those who have are taxed higher than EU students due to the lack of the national insurance number (though, really that's due to a mentality issue). Most have put off getting a job also due to the mentality that it's impossible to get one.
I'd go on rambling, unfortunately I've got to make my money worthwhile... However, on this note, I feel thoroughly short changed by British Education. They say, vote with your feet... but when so much is at stake, is anyone willing to compensate the total of close to 60 grand spent? Have something to chew on...
Thinking of:
So engineering school organised a day long career guidance thing for MSc students and attendence is regarded as compulsary for the day long program which was placed right smack in the middle of the busiest time of the year where most students would have at least an assignment due in every week.
Well, frankly thats past so I'm not going to care too much.
And then, the Foreign Office has raised the price of student visas for students outside of the EU from 36 pounds to 85 pounds, citing the growing demand and administration costs. However the Guardian reports that the Home Office however is considering upping the game by increasing the charge of visa renewal from 155 pounds to 400 pounds.
Foreign students however contribute 10.2 billion pounds to the British economy per year on top of the 4 billion pounds a year to higher education itself. The value of foreign students towards higher education assuming the numbers remain roughly the same would be 15% a year no thanks to increase of fees and what nots. Considering that the inflation rate in 2003 was something along the lines of 1.4%, it is hard to justify the increase of 15% other than labelling foreign students as cash cows.
The easy argument for the British are that foreign students don't pay taxes to the government. However when you consider not only the ammount paid but the red tape evoked upon foreign students to require basic needs and requirements like banking, jobs and renting of property, it does not seem justifiable to say "Foreign students don't pay taxes." Well for one, it's bollocks... to a certain extent whatever I "earn" from my bank accounts, a portion of which is deducted off as tax taking into regard that I've been in the country for slightly more than 3 years and hence I'm now taxable. I've known of some parents who have gotten permanant residence status in the country and pay tax while still having to pay the full 10 grand a year in university fees.
2/3rds of international students have found struggles in job applications as compared to 1/4 of EU students due to their status as internationals (work permit issue)or the lack of the national insurance number. Those who have are taxed higher than EU students due to the lack of the national insurance number (though, really that's due to a mentality issue). Most have put off getting a job also due to the mentality that it's impossible to get one.
I'd go on rambling, unfortunately I've got to make my money worthwhile... However, on this note, I feel thoroughly short changed by British Education. They say, vote with your feet... but when so much is at stake, is anyone willing to compensate the total of close to 60 grand spent? Have something to chew on...
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