L.S.E. to fight cuts in Govt finance

Press, 12 May 1980, Page 12

L.S.E. to fight cuts in Govt finance

By

KEN COATES

in Lon-

don

The internationallyfamous London School of Economics and Political Science has decided to fight the effect of Government finance cuts in a bid to retain its international character and high academic standards.

The initial response is encouraging: £650,000 has been promised in cash and as studentships of other gift- . ' ■ ' •-

Professors James Meade and Friedrich von Hayek, who won Nobel prizes in economics, ■ each gave $lO,OOO to the fund. Friends of the school in 16 countries are planning to collect contributions for student awards. Belgium. Canada. Japan and New Zealand _ are making ' a joint. response from alumni; 1. •.: ; .

An ambitious decision

has therefore been taken to increase overseas student numbers by 400 to 1550 in a bid to help close the income gap. For the first time in its history, the London School of Economics has made a drive for more students overseas. A fund-raising appeal has also been launched, for the school is determined that standards should not fall. The aim is to', enable students of merit to come to London when they might otherwise not be able to afford to do so. They will be helped through awards or loans to : cover tuition fees, maintenance, travel, books, research materials, and other expenses. The target over the next 10 years is $2 million ($4.75 million). - . While this is likely to attract more overseas students i than imposing the ■full cost, the school stands

t lose at least $lOOO on each student. This works out at a shortfall of about $750,000 in 1980-81, even if present overseas numbers . are maintained.

A third of the university’s students come from overseas, including about 14 each year from New Zealand.

Cutting the Government grant by 35 per 'cent brings the prospect of a drastic decrease in over-, seas students. The university authorities consider there is no way numbers can be ' maintained at an annual fee per student of more than £3OOO ($7125). •This session, overseas undergraduates pay £940 ($2233) and post-gradu-ats, £1230 ($2921). .

The cuts will bite next year, but the school has decided to charge the minimum • fee permitted of £2OOO ($4750) a year.