by Emily Bennett
Regional students are set to see a 50 per cent rise in annual course fees over the next decade, according to a recent Cost of University study conducted by the Australian Scholarships Group (ASG).
The study estimates that the cost of law, medicine, veterinary science and accounting degrees will rise from $9,792 per year in 2013 to $15,545 in 2023.
Meanwhile the cost of journalism, nursing, teaching and psychology degrees will increase from $3,447 per year in 2013 to $9,315 in 2023.
While domestic students are able to defer the cost of their course through the Commonwealth Government’s HECS-HELP loan scheme, meeting expenses such as rental accommodation will prove challenging with the ASG study also revealing that living expenses will rise by 46 per cent by 2023.
Following the rise, students undertaking a four year degree can expect to pay an estimated total of $160,702 in living costs in 2023.
This is more than double the amount for metropolitan students, who are more likely to be living at home while at university.
WUSA Education Officer Mitchell Bresser said the rise could be a disincentive for those seeking to pursue higher education.
“If it [university] becomes more expensive, you are going see less people wanting to get a degree,” Mr Bresser said.
“It’s going to affect enrolments.”
He added that the additional financial pressure students are facing may lure them into dropping out of university in favour of obtaining full-time work.
“You can [already] see students saying they can’t afford to be a student.”
“Studying at university costs you time that you could be in a secure job.”
Despite this, he believes it is important that students are able to continue their education.
“If people are unable to reach their full potential through education because of financial reasons then this has a negative effect on society and the economy.”
Tertangala 