Rise of the black tie and ball gown

BALLS and big spenders are not confined to traditional institutions. New universities have their share of wealthy students and even graduates who have struggled through the year will try to fork out for a graduation party.

Most run at least one event per year costing from Pounds 25 upwards and demanding black tie and ball gowns. They say it is all part of the university experience - a one-off expense for which many parents will help pay.

Sarah Clarke, general secretary of Teesside University students union, said tickets for the university-run May Ball and student-run graduation ball always sell out swiftly.

"We have a lot of local students and Middlesbrough is a poor area, but many have low accomodation costs because they live at home. Some are very well off, while others are absolutely skint." She said international students suffered most because they were not eligible for state support.

This is turned on its head at Oxford Brookes University where many wealthy international students are attracted by the cachet of the Oxford name.

Gordon MacPherson, president of Oxford Brookes Student Union, said: "Many students are here for the social life."

More than three-quarters of school leavers at Oxford Brookes are from independent schools, compared with less than half at Oxford University. But only 50 per cent of Oxford Brookes students have come straight from school. The rest are mature students, who tend to be poorer. Many work for the student union, local pubs and factories or serve in McDonald's to make ends meet. "Some people here take their student loans and stick them in a high interest account for three years," said Mr MacPherson. "Others use them to buy a computer, yet others need them to live."