Election 2017 - What do the Manifestos Offer Postgraduates?

The UK goes to the polls next week, with a general election on Thursday 8th June.

You already know that, of course - unless you're so busy with your exams and dissertation that you've turned off the TV, radio and internet for the last two months (in which case, I'd like to know how you're reading this).

You may also have made up your mind about which way to vote. This post certainly won't make any attempt to influence that decision. All I will say is that you should vote, particularly as students could play a big role in deciding the election outcome.

Student issues have also been prominent during the campaign, with promises to abolish undergraduate fees and perhaps even tackle existing graduate debt.

But what do these plans mean for postgraduates? If you're getting ready to start a Masters or PhD, will the election result make any difference to your course - or how much you pay for it?

One way to find out is to read the main parties' manifestos, thoroughly, from cover to cover.

Alternatively, you could just read the rest of this post...

Having been in government for the last seven years, the Conservatives have already made some important changes to postgraduate finance. Student loans for Masters degrees were introduced in 2016 and a similar system for PhDs is on the way for 2018.

The 2017 Conservative Manifesto doesn't refer specifically to Masters or PhD study. But it does include some policies that could make a big difference to postgraduates (and other students).

Student loan forgiveness for teachers

The Conservatives plan to offer "forgiveness on student loan repayments" to working teachers.

This policy is of obvious interest if you're considering postgraduate teacher training (such as a PGCE). In theory, it could mean that someone who worked as a teacher throughout their career might never need to repay their student loan.

However, it isn't clear whether forgiveness applies to all student loans (including those for your undergraduate degree) or only to borrowing for teaching qualifications. It's also unclear what would happen to the balance of your loan (your debt) during periods of repayment forgiveness.

University investment for research and development

The Conservatives plan to increase "investment funds" for university R&D.

This will probably focus on the creation of new inventions, technologies and intellectual property. But these are all activities you could potentially contribute to as a postgraduate, and increased resources might lead to more opportunities (and funding) to do so

International visas

Students will remain in the Conservatives' net migration target of 100,000 or less. This means that the party would "toughen the visa requirements for international students" and introduce "higher requirements" for working in the UK after graduation.

It isn't clear exactly what these new requirements will involve, but you should still be able to study a Masters or PhD in the UK as a genuine international student.

Brexit

The Conservatives are commited to the Brexit process and will seek to "control immigration from the European Union".

There is no specific reference to EU students in the manifesto, but it's possible that they could be covered by the new visa requirements above.

The Liberal Democrats were criticised by many students after giving up their 2010 pledge not to raise tuition fees. However, they can also take some credit for the new postgraduate loans (originally developed during the 2010-15 coalition government).

Students and universities are also central to several policies in the 2017 Liberal Democrat Manifesto.

Student finance

The Liberal Democrats would "establish a review of higher education finance in the next parliament" and "consider any necessary reforms".

This will involve "making sure there is no retrospective raising of rates" for student loan repayment and preventing the "selling off of loans to private companies".

A review could potentially also cover postgraduate fees and finance (particularly if loans lead to rising fees). However, no specific commitment is made in the manifesto.

Postgraduate funding

Postgraduate funding as a whole isn't specifically addressed in the manifesto, but the Liberal Democrats will "fight to retain access" to EU student funding schemes. Some of these, such as Marie Sklodowska-Curie actions and Erasmus+ directly benefit Masters and PhD students.

The Liberal Democrats would "remove students from official migration statistics" and seek to "ensure a fair and transparant visa process".

This may not necessarily mean relaxing student visa requirements, but it doesn't incentivise any reduction in international student numbers.

The Liberal Democrats also plan to "reinstate post-study work visas" for STEM graduates "who find suitable employment within six months". The "devolved administrations" (Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) would be able to "sponsor additional post-study work visas".

Assuming this policy also applies to postgraduates, it would make it easier to work in the UK after completing a Masters or PhD in certain subjects.

Brexit

The Liberal Democrats would oppose a 'hard Brexit' and seek to maintain many existing benefits of EU membership.

This would include continuing access to freedom of movement for EU students studying in the UK (and potentially for UK students studying in the EU).

Such rights would also apply to postgraduates, meaning you wouldn't need a visa to study a Masters or PhD in the UK as an EU student. They could also ensure that EU students are charged domestic fees with access to postgraduate loans and research council funding.

The cost of attending university has been a significant area of focus during the Labour Party's 2017 election campaign.

Though the 2017 Labour Manifesto doesn't include postgraduate-specific policies, some pledges could be relevant to Masters and PhD students.

Abolishing tuition fees

Labour have pledged to "abolish university tuition fees". However, you should note that the justification and costing for this policy is based on undergraduate study.

Currently, Masters and PhD fees are not directly regulated (and therefore cannot be raised or lowered by the government).

It's possible that a Labour government might also intervene in the cost of postgraduate study, but the party's manifesto shouldn't be read as promising this.

It is also unclear whether any abolition of fees would extend to students from the EU (or elsewhere).

International students

Labour would not include international students in "immigration numbers", but would "crack down on fake colleges".

This would mean that you'd still need a visa to study in the UK as an international student, but the process for acquiring this wouldn't become harder (provided your course and university were genuine).

Brexit

Labour would end "freedom of movement" when the UK leaves the EU. This would remove the current right for EU students to study in the UK without a visa and pay domestic fees for a Masters or PhD.

However, it is possible that similar arrangements might result from negotiations with the EU.

Labour would also seek to maintain the UK's access to student funding schemes such as Erasmus+.

The Liberal Democrats, Labour and Conservatives are generally regarded as the 'main' UK parties, with large memberships and candidates in seats across the country.

But they aren't the only UK political parties, of course.

The following is a quick look at the other manifestos, from a postgraduate perspective:

The Scottish National Party

The 2017 SNP Manifesto includes pledges to:

• Continue free undergraduate tuition for Scottish and EU students at Scotland's universities.
• Reintroduce post-study work visas for international students in Scotland.
• Seek continued access to EU funding schemes such as Erasmus+.

Plaid Cymru

The 2017 Plaid Cymru Manifesto includes pledges to:

• Create incentives for Welsh graduates to remain in, or return to, Wales.
• Call for the removal of international students from migration targets.

The Green Party

The 2017 Green Party Manifesto includes pledges to:

• Remove university tuition fees, introduce full student grants and increase public investment in higher education.
• Cancel existing student loan debt.
• Protect or replace EU funding for higher education and maintain access to Erasmus funding.
• Protect freedom of movement between the UK and EU.

UK Independence Party

The 2017 UKIP Manifesto includes pledges to:

• Remove undergraduate tution fees for STEM students.
• Reduce support for degree courses which do not lead to sufficient graduate employment.
• Remove EU students' access to loans, following Brexit.
• End current freedom of movement obligations between the UK and EU.

Though none of the three main parties refers directly to postgraduate education, their manifestos do include pledges that could matter to Masters and PhD students.

Brexit in particular could be significant, with different policies on freedom of movement for EU students, international visas and access to European funding programmes.

Of course, these are only some of the policies put forward by each party. I'd recommend you look at the manifestos for yourself before making a decision.

Whatever the result on June 8th, we'll be keeping an eye on what the outcome could mean for postgraduates - and keeping you updated.

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