5th July 2014, 03:09 PM
The decline occurred well before the new 9k fees were introduced. Around 2005 and 2006. Even before the recession and about 5 years before 9k. It does not look like a correlation, 9k fees and decline. The best I can figure out with the limited data is that the decline has come mainly in non-traditional students. You look at the UCAS data (which is pretty much 17-19 year olds going to uni for the first time) and the rates are steady. You look at part-time students e.g. looking to change career, interested in the subject, etc. you see a massive decline. That is were the loss is occurring, part-time students, by a lot. That tends to correlate well with the increase in fees to 3k. BUT that is only part-time students. Your full time 17-19 olds have stayed steady for years now. I think fees have discourage people who are interested in a second degree or learning archaeology because it is fun but not to many people looking at it as a first degree or career.
In terms of career after uni, the 9k fee might influence some people? However you don't have to pay back student loans till you make over 25k so not a big worry for most new archaeologists.
I should also say the Universities pop out 1000 (yes, a thousand that is no typo) people with Masters each year in straight archaeology, possibly another 200 in archaeological sci. Yeah, about a quarter of them are American/Canadian and going home but still 500-700 people who have gone beyond a BA/BS. For PhDs it is about 150-170. Two degrees you don't really do for the fun of it. Even with declining undergrad levels there are more than enough people with archaeology degrees (degrees that indicate you are at least interested in an archaeology career) for years to come.
In terms of career after uni, the 9k fee might influence some people? However you don't have to pay back student loans till you make over 25k so not a big worry for most new archaeologists.
I should also say the Universities pop out 1000 (yes, a thousand that is no typo) people with Masters each year in straight archaeology, possibly another 200 in archaeological sci. Yeah, about a quarter of them are American/Canadian and going home but still 500-700 people who have gone beyond a BA/BS. For PhDs it is about 150-170. Two degrees you don't really do for the fun of it. Even with declining undergrad levels there are more than enough people with archaeology degrees (degrees that indicate you are at least interested in an archaeology career) for years to come.