Plenty of buck but no bang

Carl Lygo’s argument that a university course is poor value for money is strengthened when costs in other educational sectors are compared (“Costly lessons”, Opinion, 5 February). For example, a full-time student in further education is funded at a rate of about £4,000 a year. For this, they generally get more teacher contact each week over longer terms. Their class sizes are usually smaller as most colleges do not have huge lecture halls. Apart from libraries, generous leisure facilities and prestigious buildings, it is hard to see what higher education students get for the extra money. Universities could offer high-level courses far more cheaply, but what motivation do they have to do so when they are handed £9,000 per student?

John Linfoot
Additional Learning Support
Bournemouth University