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英国大学近半数学生压力过大

sabrina@qs.com — Thu, 22 Aug 2019 12:07:59 +0000

Nearly Half of Students are Stressed at UK Universities

sabrina@qs.com Thu, 08/22/2019 - 13:07

Thu, 08/22/2019 - 14:00

英国大学近半数学生压力过大

The results of the Natwest Student Living Index 2019 have been released, based on a survey of 3,604 students at UK universities, and demonstrate that almost half (45 percent) are feeling stressed by their course. The survey also found that only 41 percent of students on average are enjoying their degree, with the highest levels of enjoyment found at Aberystwyth University, where 58 percent of students said they’re enjoying themselves. (Arguably, they could be enjoying themselves a little too much, as Aberystwyth students spend the most on alcohol in the UK).

Low stress levels at the University of St Andrews

The University of St Andrews was the best out of the surveyed UK universities for stress levels, with only 22 percent of students reporting feeling stressed. St Andrews was also in the top five when looking at the percentage of students enjoying their university course, at 47 percent.

This is despite the fact that St Andrews students spend one the largest amounts of hours per month on studying in the country, only behind Oxford and Cambridge students. This year’s survey had found that students on average are spending nine hours more a month studying compared to 2018, and two hours less on socializing, but it seems that students at St Andrews have largely found the right balance between studies and socializing.

The excellent availability of mental health services also likely plays a part in the low stress levels at St Andrews, with students there the most satisfied with these services out of any other UK university at 47 percent – far higher than the national average.

Stress levels were similarly low at fellow Scottish universities Stirling and Aberdeen at 30 and 33 percent respectively, while in a stark contrast, 60 percent of students at the University of Cambridge reported feeling stressed (the highest in the UK), with similarly high rates of stress at fellow prestigious UK universities Oxford and Durham, demonstrating that students at these institutions may be feeling a great deal of pressure to maintain high grades as well as balancing a social life.

Students dissatisfied with mental health services overall

With so many students feeling stressed and overwhelmed during university, it’s all the more important for UK universities to provide accessible and reliable mental health support services for students all year round. However, only 23 percent of UK students are satisfied with the mental health resources available at their university.

The stats were particularly discouraging at the University of Bristol, with just 14 percent of students satisfied with the services available. And in the wake of a stream of devastating student suicides at Bristol over recent years, it is more imperative than ever for students to be given access to the help they need when the stress of their studies and other personal issues becomes too much.

At Bristol, it seems the issue is actually a matter of the quantity rather than quality of mental health services available, with services becoming particularly stretched during Fresher’s Week and exam periods. In December 2018, in response to students’ campaigns for better services, the University of Bristol launched a new Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

The strategy was implemented based on contributions from staff and students, with Bristol’s Student Union encouraging students to get involved in shaping the services that directly affect them – so if you’re feeling frustrated with the mental health services available at your university, it’s important to speak up and get your voice heard to affect change.

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The results of NatWest’s latest Student Living Index 2019 show that stress levels are high, and students need more support. Find out more.

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工党希望取消 A-Level 预测成绩：这是个好主意吗？

chloe@qs.com — Wed, 14 Aug 2019 15:36:18 +0000

Labour Want To Abolish Predicted A-Level Grades: Is it a Good Idea?

chloe@qs.com Wed, 08/14/2019 - 16:36

Wed, 08/14/2019 - 17:30

工党希望取消 A-Level 预测成绩：这是个好主意吗？

This morning (August 14 2019) Labour’s education secretary, Angela Rayner, announced a new plan for the university application process, which would be put in place if Labour got into power “by the end of [their] first term in office”. Under the proposed new plan, students would only be able to apply for university after they had received their A level grades, to avoid giving any advantage to those from privileged backgrounds over those from underprivileged backgrounds. Rayner said that “radical change” was needed to counteract this.

How does the current system disadvantage students from less privileged backgrounds?

The current application system relies on universities giving students an offer based on their predicted grades. Labour argue that this is discriminatory for two reasons; firstly, they say, universities may predict grades that are lower than students’ actual grades will be, causing them to miss out on potential opportunities from universities that they otherwise would’ve applied for, or being rejected from universities due to low predicted grades not reaching the university’s entry requirements. Secondly, they suggest that universities may over predict, leading to students applying for universities with higher entry requirements.

How accurate are predicted grades really?

As with all predictions, there is likely to be at least some discrepancy. A 2011 study from the Department for Business Innovation and Skills backed this up, claiming that only 51.7 percent of predicted grades were accurate, with 6.6 percent under predicted, and 47.7 percent over predicted.

David Hughes, chief executive of the Association of Colleges, claims that this figure is much lower; “with only 16 percent of applicants achieving their predicted A-level grades, it is clear that pre-results applications are problematic."

We asked current students if their predicted grades were accurate, and whether or not this affected their university choices.

One student says, “I actually got higher than my predicted grades and could’ve applied for other unis if I’d known beforehand.” Another says, “I didn’t get into my first-choice university but that’s because I applied for one with much higher entry requirements than my predictions – my predicted grades were spot on.” In contrast, one student tells us “my predicted grades were higher but I didn’t get an offer from my first choice university because I didn’t pass the interview.”

So is this a good idea or not?

What do you think about this situation? When we asked a group of students their opinions on the subject, we got very mixed reactions.

It’s a good idea

Adam, a current history and international relations student, says that he agrees with Labour’s proposed idea, and says that he feels like the current system is “a bit of a gamble”, explaining “not knowing can make you more conservative in your choices – as in you aim lower to ensure you get in.” On the other hand, he adds “or the opposite can happen, where people are too confident, then don’t get their predicted grades and can’t get in.”

One hopeful student, Hattie, who is currently waiting to see whether she has got into the university of her choice, says, “I don’t think predicted grades are very accurate anyway, so applying afterwards saves you having false hope” adding that she didn’t think it would make much difference to the application system as “everyone applies all at once anyway.”

Not so much…

However, some strongly disagree with the idea. One student argues that “you might not reach out to unis with the higher grade boundaries who might accept you anyway. For example, I was predicted AAB and got ABC and still got accepted.”

Another student suggests that the proposed changes are unnecessary, stating, “you can already do that in clearing and adjustment” adding that “it could be useful if you’re taking a year out, because you have more time, but if you’re not taking a year out I just think it’d just be more stressful because of limited spaces.”

Recent chemistry graduate, Andy, raises an interesting point that “it would be a rush to interview” for universities under the proposed new system, adding “my interview before my final grades was a very important factor in getting to university.”

Aima, another recent graduate, says “I just think the window between applying and receiving offers would be too small and schools may not be able to give enough support throughout that time.”

What could happen instead?

Arguably, another solution to this problem would be to go back to the old system of taking into account AS level grades when applying for university. This used to be the case, where until 2017, students in the UK would take half of their A level in year 12 (AS level) and the other half in year 13 (A2 level) and universities would make their decisions based on this AS achieved grade and the predicted grade.

What do you think about this proposed plan? Have your say in the comments below.

Lead image: Crawley College (Flickr)

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With Labour announcing a new plan where university applications happen after grades are published, we explore whether or not it is actually a good idea.

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全国大学生联盟揭露英国大学令人震惊的性暴力规模

sabrina@qs.com — Fri, 21 Jun 2019 10:59:56 +0000

NUS Reveals Shocking Scale of Sexual Violence at UK Universities

sabrina@qs.com Fri, 06/21/2019 - 11:59

Fri, 06/21/2019 - 12:45

全国大学生联盟揭露英国大学令人震惊的性暴力规模

New research by the NUS Women’s Campaign has found that sexual abuse is rife at UK universities and colleges, with 75 percent of students stating they’ve had at least one unwanted sexual experience.

The report, which is NUS’ first targeted piece of research into sexual harassment and violence specifically within further education, was based on a survey of 544 students, predominantly women, at UK universities and within three focus-groups at higher education colleges, and also found that one in seven respondents said they’d experienced attempted rape or unwanted sexual intercourse. Three in 10 students also reported feeling pressured to establish an unwanted romantic or sexual relationship, and one in three cases of sexual harassment are happening on campus, 13 percent of which are in the classroom.

Normalized behavior

However, only one in seven (14 percent) of surveyed students who’d experienced any form of unwanted sexual behavior said they’d reported it, with many students citing worries over someone else’s reaction as the reason they didn’t challenge the behavior. Meanwhile, bisexual students were significantly more likely than students of other sexual orientations to say their embarrassment was their reason for not reporting an incident to anyone.

Fear of revenge and violence were also cited as reasons that women didn’t want to report what’s happened to them, showing that more victim support is needed to help soothe these fears. As well as this, over a third of victims of unwanted sexual behavior go on to suffer depression or anxiety, with seven percent even attempting to end their own lives.

The report has also raised fears over the normalization of sexual harassment and violence at higher education institutions, with some students feeling their experience wasn’t serious enough to report.

Sarah Lasoye, NUS women student’s officer, calls for ‘urgent responses’, in response to the report, arguing that “This culture has been normalized to such an extent that unhealthy sexual behavior has become harder to identify. While students may understand the concept of consent they struggle to put it into practice, with women fearing revenge and anger from men.”

And while NUS recognizes the recent progress made in the issue of sexual abuse at UK universities, it has stated its concern that higher education colleges, which have fewer resources, are trailing behind. It recommends that all higher education colleges work to improve their reporting procedures, provide better support services for the welfare and wellbeing of victims of sexual violence, and work to prevent further incidents by promoting healthy sexual behavior and alternative masculinities through workshops on consent and healthy relationships.

David Hughes, the chief executive of the Association of Colleges, commented on the sobering results of the report: “For most students, campuses are a safe space, with safeguarding at the heart of everything that colleges do. However, one act or threat of sexual violence is one too many.

“Reporting sexual violence and threats of sexual violence is never easy but we would urge students to speak to staff so that they can provide them with the right levels of support and protection and to help them to improve their zero-tolerance policies.”

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留学生为英国经济带来了多少收益？

sabrina@qs.com — Thu, 28 Mar 2019 14:19:44 +0000

How Much Do International Students Bring to the UK Economy?

sabrina@qs.com Thu, 03/28/2019 - 14:19

Thu, 03/28/2019 - 14:15

留学生为英国经济带来了多少收益？

A new study has found that a single cohort of international students will contribute a whopping £3.2 billion to the UK economy over 10 years through income tax and National Insurance payments – but the government is nonetheless proposing more restrictions on post-study work visas.

The report, conducted by the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) and Kaplan International Pathways (Kaplan), also found that international students are also finding graduate jobs in sectors with acute skills shortages – debunking the idea that they could be taking jobs that would otherwise be held by UK students.

The amounts don’t take into account tuition fees, which also inject billions every year into the economy. The report found that EU students contribute £1.2 billion, while non-EU students contribute £2 billion, and contributions also varied across different study levels, with master’s graduates contributing the most, at £1.6 billion.

The impact of post-study work visa restrictions

The report also found that the government’s decision to scrap post-study work visas in 2012 (which previously allowed international graduates to stay in the UK for up to two years) has actually cost the country around £150 million a year. In order to stay and work in the UK after graduation, international (non-EU) graduates currently have just four months after the end of their course to apply for a Tier 2 General Work Visa by getting a job that pays at least £20,800 per year, or by finding sponsorship as an entrepreneur.

And although the number of international students in the UK continues to rise year on year, it’s not nearly as fast-growing as the number of overseas students coming to other English-speaking study destinations such as Canada or Australia, with both perhaps perceived to offer more welcoming post-study work visa options.

With the UK’s exit from the European Union looming, and warnings that employers could miss out on talented, skilled graduates who help to fill skill gaps in fields like engineering, technology and medicine, university leaders have called on the government to introduce a new work visa to allow international students to stay longer after graduation, to send a more welcoming message. Under the proposal, graduates would be sponsored by their university rather than an employer, and be able to stay for up to two years on a more flexible basis than the current Tier 2 visa.

However, proposals from the government’s White Paper, published in December 2018, actually show that there are plans to restricting work visas further by setting the minimum required salary threshold to £30,000. International graduates would however be given six months rather than four to find a job after graduating (12 months for doctoral graduates) – a minor extension, but one that would be welcomed nonetheless.

UK Universities: #WeAreInternational

The report was welcomed by both the National Union of Students (NUS) and the #WeAreInternational campaign, which was launched in 2013 by the University of Sheffield to celebrate and emphasize the importance of diversity in the university’s student and staff, in response to concerns from international students about negative media coverage and some political statements on immigration in the UK.

Within this campaign, the university points out that the contribution of international students goes far beyond their financial value, with their research demonstrating that these students are also well ingrained in the city’s life, working and volunteering in hospitals, charities and schools as well as enriching Sheffield’s culture with music, food, dance and language events throughout the year.

A spokesperson for the UK-wide #WeAreInternationalcampaign said: “This report underpins the case to reinstate the competitive post-study work rights for which students themselves have long lobbied.

“Far from the idea that international students who undertake a period of work after their courses should be discouraged, we now know international graduates are a national asset. It is in our interest and theirs to make sure our visa system reflects that.”

What’s your opinion on the report’s findings? Let us know in the comments below.

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The UK is considering more post-study work visa restrictions, but how much do international students actually bring to the economy?

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世界上最贵的城市在哪里？

sabrina@qs.com — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 14:42:21 +0000

Where Are the Most Expensive Cities in the World?

sabrina@qs.com Tue, 03/19/2019 - 14:42

Tue, 03/19/2019 - 14:30

世界上最贵的城市在哪里？

The results of the Economist Intelligence Unit’s latest Worldwide Cost of Living Survey have been released, and the annual report sees three cities gain the dubious honor of being named the world’s most expensive in 2019: Paris, Hong Kong and Singapore.

It’s the first time three cities have shared first place in the 30-year history of the survey, which considers 133 cities around the world.

Four European cities are in the top 10, with Paris ranking as the least affordable in the region, having previously been seventh overall in 2017. According to the Economist, it only offers value for money (in comparison with other European cities) for alcohol, transport and tobacco.

The US and Switzerland both have two cities included in the top 10, with a stronger US dollar making the destination less affordable for travelers.

And, although London is often considered one of the most expensive cities to live in, it actually doesn’t come in the top 20, instead ranking joint 22^nd alongside Melbourne and Milan, although it nonetheless climbed eight places this year. Meanwhile, the second-most expensive city in the UK, Manchester, climbed five places to joint 51^st.

The world’s 10 most expensive cities

	City	Location
1=	Singapore	Singapore
1=	Paris	France
1=	Hong Kong	Hong Kong (SAR)
4	Zurich	Switzerland
5=	Geneva	Switzerland
5=	Osaka	Japan
7=	Seoul	South Korea
7=	Copenhagen	Denmark
7=	New York	United States
10=	Tel Aviv	Israel
10=	Los Angeles	United States

What about the world’s cheapest cities?

On the other side of the coin, Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, was named the cheapest city in the world to live in in 2019, followed by Syrian capital Damascus in second place. Unfortunately, these locations are ‘cheap but not always cheerful’ according to the Economist, which referred to the ‘element of risk’ in some of the world’s cheapest cities, as more locations are becoming more affordable due to economic or political disruptions, with war-torn Damascus being one example. The report stated: "Put simply, cheaper cities also tend to be less livable”.

	City	Location
1	Caracas	Venezuela
2	Damascus	Syria
3	Tashkent	Uzbekistan
4	Almaty	Kazakhstan
5	Bangalore	India
6=	Karachi	Pakistan
6=	Lagos	Nigeria
8=	Buenos Aires	Argentina
8=	Chennai	India
10	New Delhi	India

Comparing rankings: the Economist vs QS

But how does the Worldwide Cost of Living Survey compare with QS’s Best Student Cities index, which includes affordability as one of the five indicators used to compile the ranking? The most affordable city according to the most recent QS Best Student Cities index is Budapest, followed by Kuala Lumpur, and three Russian cities are also included among the top 10 most affordable cities for students – Tomsk, Novosibirsk and St Petersburg.

In contrast, no European cities were included within the 10 cheapest cities in the world in the Worldwide Cost of Living Survey. Last year’s edition had included Romanian capital Bucharest in ninth place, but it’s dropped this year. Also, three Indian cities are featured in the top 10 for affordability according to the Economist, while India’s only entrant in the Best Student Cities index, Mumbai, is ranked 32^nd for affordability according to QS.

Buenos Aires fell a whopping 48 places to now rank among the 10 cheapest cities in the world, but actually doesn’t score well for affordability in the QS Best Student Cities index, at 71^st out of 101.

The cause of such considerable discrepancies between the two rankings are the differing methodologies used to compile them. The Economist’s survey is aimed at expatriates and business travelers, and compares the cost of 160 products and services, including household items, rent, food, public transport, fuel and bills. In contrast, the Best Student Cities index considers tuition fees and general costs of living – arguably making it more applicable to student expenses. Also, most of the cities in the top 10 for affordability according to the Economist are not currently featured in the QS Best Student Cities index.

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牛津大学将为低收入学生提供更多助学金

belkis@qs.com — Thu, 21 Feb 2019 15:26:45 +0000

University of Oxford Bursaries Are Set to Increase for Low-Income Students

belkis@qs.com Thu, 02/21/2019 - 15:26

Thu, 02/21/2019 - 15:15

牛津大学将为低收入学生提供更多助学金

The University of Oxford will be increasing bursaries given to students from low-income backgrounds, in an aim to increase inclusivity.

From 2020, students from low-income backgrounds could be receiving up to £5,000 per year in non-repayable bursaries. The decision came after the university expressed the importance of attracting students from “under-represented and disadvantaged backgrounds”.

Last year, leading British universities Oxford and Cambridge were accused of being socially exclusive and failing to recruit eligible students from English state schools.

In December, the University of Oxford issued a statement saying that it was “very aware” that it “must work harder”.

Currently, the university provides 25 percent of its students with approximately £8m’s worth of financial support, though students who are eligible for the Moritz-Heyman Scholarship will start receiving more funds than the current £3,700 bursary.

Students whose parents or guardians earn up to £27,500 are presently receiving between £3,700 and £1,700 – a figure that will also increase to between £5,000 and £4,200 in 2020.

Oxbridge ‘over-recruits’ from private schools in shocking numbers

Amid claims that Oxford and Cambridge are ‘too socially exclusive’, the Sutton Trust mobility charity says that leading universities are attracting a limited range of talent. New research by the charity has revealed that Oxford and Cambridge universities are enrolling more students from eight top schools than almost 3,000 other English state schools put together.

The study observed Oxbridge admissions between 2015 and 2017, and found that mostly private schools, with a couple of top-performing state schools and colleges, disproportionately dominated the number of places awarded.

Trust founder Sir Peter Lampl said all young people needed a “fair chance”, after the study had shown that pupils from eight schools filled 1,310 Oxford and Cambridge places over the three years, in comparison with 1,220 from 2,900 other schools.

Last year, Labour MP David Lammy launched an attack on the University of Oxford following a report which revealed that just 11 percent of new undergraduates to the university in 2017 were from disadvantaged backgrounds, with white British applicants being twice as likely to be accepted than their black counterparts.

Oxford representatives put the findings down to the applications the university received, with Samina Khan, director of undergraduate admissions stating that, “We are not getting the right number of black people with the talent to apply to us.”

Oxford’s Student Union also stressed a belief that “there are large and unacceptable attainment gaps in schools, which greatly disadvantage black pupils and those from low-income backgrounds, among other under-represented groups”.

Oxford doing all they can to “support undergraduates from under-represented and disadvantaged backgrounds”

Dr Jane Gover, the university’s director of student fees and funding, said that “there’s been really strong feedback” from Oxford students who wish to receive more “upfront funding to help them in their time as a student”, adding that it’s the sole reason they’re “increasing those funding levels”.

She also states that: "This is a really huge part of the university work to attract and support undergraduates from under-represented and disadvantaged backgrounds.

“We don’t want to see students being put off because they’re worried about the cost of living, or their ability to engage with university life.”

Last year, Oxford also announced it was expanding a program of spring and summer schools targeted specifically at academically talented students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

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即将推出：按地区和区域排名的QS大学排名

sabrina@qs.com — Mon, 08 Oct 2018 13:42:42 +0000

Coming Soon: QS Rankings by Region and Location

sabrina@qs.com Mon, 10/08/2018 - 14:42

Mon, 10/08/2018 - 15:30

即将推出：按地区和区域排名的QS大学排名

In case the recent QS Business Masters Rankings 2019 wasn’t exciting enough, QS will this month release the annual QS World University Rankings by Region, as well as the first ever Rankings by Location for India and Mainland China, with the latter launching on October 11. The Rankings by Region aims to highlight the top universities in some of the world’s fastest-growing regions, and consists of the QS BRICS University Rankings, the QS Asia University Rankings, the QS Latin America University Rankings, the QS EECA University Rankings and the QS Arab Region University Rankings. Read on to find out more about what you can expect from each of these.

QS Rankings by Location

New for 2019 are the QS Mainland China University Rankings and the QS India University Rankings, with the China ranking launching on October 11, while the India ranking will launch on October 16. 75 universities feature in the India ranking, and 100 are highlighted in the Mainland China ranking. The results of these new Location Rankings have been compiled based on the QS BRICS University Rankings, and therefore the same methodology and weightings are used for both.

And on October 23, the first ever QS South Korea University Rankings and QS Japan University Rankings will be released. Both of these rankings are based on the results of the QS Asia University Rankings, which will be published the following day.

And finally, the QS Mexico University Rankings will launch on October 25, with the results based on the QS Latin America University Rankings.

BRICS

The QS BRICS University Rankings 2019 will launch on October 16, extended this year to feature 400 universities in Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, making it the biggest BRICS launch yet. Last year’s edition saw Chinese universities dominate, taking all but three of the top 10 positions, but with Indian entrants such as Indian Institute of Technology Bombay continuing to climb in the QS World University Rankings®, will China perform as well this year?

Asia

First published in 2009, the QS Asia University Rankings 2019 will be launched on October 24 and will be the biggest launch yet, featuring 500 universities (extended from 400) in 17 locations. The methodology is similar to the QS World University Rankings®, with some additional indicators and adapted weightings. A total of 10 indicators are used to compile this ranking, including the proportion of staff with a PhD and the proportions of inbound and outbound exchange students. Nanyang Technological University, Singapore was the highest-ranked Asian university in the 2018 edition, but will it hold on to the top spot?

Latin America

Although it’s frequently dominated by Brazilian institutions (with 83 entrants out of the 385 universities in the ranking), last year’s QS Latin America University Rankings was actually topped by a Chilean institution - Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Will it retain its position this year, or be overtaken by a rival Latin American institution such as Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp)? Find out when the results go live on October 31.

Arab region

Launched annually since 2014, the latest edition of the QS Arab Region University Rankings will feature 120 universities, extended from 100 in last year’s edition, with each institution ranked based on eight indicators. Lebanon’s American University of Beirut was number one in the region in 2018, but will face fierce competition from the likes of Saudi Arabia’s King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals. Check back on October 31 to find out the results.

Emerging Europe & Central Asia

Also launching on October 31, the QS EECA University Rankings 2019 will highlight 300 of the most prestigious universities in the EECA countries, based on a methodology which assesses institutions on eight indicators. This ranking has consistently been dominated by Russian universities, with Lomonosov Moscow State University ranking first for three years in a row, but will it achieve first place for a fourth time?

To make sure you don’t miss the results, follow us on Twitter and Facebook (and join the conversation with #QSWUR), or create an account to receive our email newsletters.

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纽约大学为所有医科学生提供免费学费

sabrina@qs.com — Mon, 20 Aug 2018 10:43:34 +0000

NYU Offers Free Tuition for all Medical Students

sabrina@qs.com Mon, 08/20/2018 - 11:43

Mon, 08/20/2018 - 12:30

纽约大学（NYU）将成为美国第一所为医科学生支付学费的大学，无论其成绩或需求如何。了解更多信息。

New York University (NYU)’s School of Medicine has announced that it will now cover the cost of tuition for all past and present students, regardless of merit or financial need. This includes international students, and makes NYU the only top-ranked US medical school to offer full tuition scholarships to all students.

The university cited concerns on the ‘overwhelming financial debt’ facing graduates, which could lead aspiring doctors to choose more lucrative specialties, rather than general roles, or even put them off studying medicine altogether.

NYU’s initiative is effective immediately, affecting 443 current students, and will cover tuition fees of US$55,000 per year. However, students will still need to self-fund for their room, board and other fees and expenses, which come to around $27,000 per year.

The scheme was made possible thanks to the donations of more than 2,500 supporters, including a $100 million gift from Kenneth G. Langone and his wife Elaine, after whom the school is named.

Robert I. Grossman, dean of the medical school and CEO of NYU Langone Medical Center, said: “This decision recognizes a moral imperative that must be addressed, as institutions place an increasing debt burden on young people who aspire to become physicians”.

Tackling the issue of affordability

Medicine is well known as one of the most expensive courses to study, with the annual cost of attending a public medical school in the US currently standing at $60,945, including living costs. Private medical schools are even more costly, at $82,278 per year.

And in 2017 the Association of American Medical Colleges found that the median debt for graduating medical students was a whopping $192,000. At NYU, 62 percent of the Class of 2017 left with some debt, with the average figure slightly lower than the national average, at $184,000.

Most of the 20,000 students enrolled in US medical students take out large federal loans to support their studies, and only a few institutions have launched initiatives to offer free tuition to medical students.

One such example is UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine, where up to 20 percent of students per year are granted a full scholarship which covers the entire cost of medical school for four years, including tuition and living expenses. However, this scholarship is only granted based on merit.

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斯托姆齐为黑人学生设立剑桥奖学金

sabrina@qs.com — Thu, 16 Aug 2018 16:07:46 +0000

Stormzy Launches New Cambridge Scholarship for Black Students

sabrina@qs.com Thu, 08/16/2018 - 17:07

Thu, 08/16/2018 - 17:45

斯托姆齐为黑人学生设立剑桥奖学金

British rapper Stormzy today announced he will fund two black British students to study at the University of Cambridge, with a new scholarship.

The ‘Stormzy Scholarship’ will cover the students’ full tuition fees, as well as providing a maintenance grant for up to four years of an undergraduate degree. There will be two awards in 2018, and two more in 2019, worth a total of £18,000 each. This will significantly reduce the need for the winners to take out government or commercial loans in order to fund their studies.

It’s not the first time Stormzy’s supported students, having previously donated £9,000 to a student’s crowdfunding campaign so she could study at Harvard University in the US.

‘Shocking’ lack of diversity at Cambridge

The news follows recent criticism for what’s been called a ‘shocking’ lack of representation of black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) students at Cambridge, with some colleges not admitting any black students at all between 2012 and 2016. Statistics from Cambridge, which were highlighted by the university’s African Caribbean Society (ACS), showed that only 15 black male undergraduates were accepted in 2015.

There are small signs of progress, as 58 black students commenced courses in 2017, which the university’s Vice Chancellor Professor Stephen Toope called “the largest number ever”, “but not nearly as many as we would like.”

Stormzy said: "There are so many young black kids all over the country who have the level of academic excellence to study at a university such as Cambridge - however we are still under represented at leading universities.

“It's so important for black students, especially, to be aware that it can 100 percent be an option to attend a university of this caliber."

He added that he hoped the scholarship serves as a reminder that the opportunity for black students to study at one of the best universities in the world “is (theirs) for the taking - and if funding is one of the barriers, then we can work towards breaking that barrier down.”

Stormzy is sending black students to @Cambridge_Uni pic.twitter.com/X0c227AszQ
— BBC Newsbeat (@BBCNewsbeat) August 16, 2018

How to apply

To apply for a Stormzy Scholarship, you should:

Have black ethnicity
Have a confirmed place to study an undergraduate degree at the University of Cambridge, commencing in October 2018
Be classed as a Home student in terms of fee status
Have applied and been accepted for the usual student loan and maintenance grant from Student Finance England

If you’re applying, you’ll need to be quick, as the closing date for applications for the 2018 round is August 30. Those who want to study at Cambridge in 2019 need to apply by the regular October 15 deadline. The winner will be decided by a selection panel of university staff who will consider your household income, socio-economic background and personal statement. Full application details can be found here.

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Stormzy will fund a new scholarship to help black students study at the University of Cambridge. Find out more.