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erastesI just discovered that one of the most prestigious writing courses was offered at the University of East Anglia, it was founded by Malcolm Bradbury in 1970 apparantly, and competition is fierce. (It's an MA (Master of Arts) in Creative Writing)
So I thought - well, why not? So I trot over to the UEA website and have a look, and it seems promising - it consists of one workshop a week, (do-able, possibly work would give me an day off) over two Semesters. And I think... Hmmmm. That sounds good.
As usual with most educatory brochures they are incomprehensible so I give the nice lady a ring at UEA and ask her to confirm the course. "Yes, one workshop on a Tuesday"
Me: Oh OK. Can't see the fee anywhere...
Her: Same fee as all courses at the UEA.
Me: (fainted) ...(weak voice) what.... £3,138?
Her: Yes. And it'll be going up next year, it'll probably be £4,000.
Me: ........ Oh.. Ok. Thanks....
Well, I'm sorry about that, but world famous and presitigious you might be, MA in Creative Writing, but who the FUCK can afford that? Unless you are a wealthy person who doesn't work, or a housewife with a nice husband.
Let's work that out shall we? *calculates*
That's approximately £25 an HOUR. You could probably get a private tutor for less. You can't tell me that 24 (number of students) times £4K = *£96,000* is the real cost of a yearly course.
*cries* I really wanted to do it, too.
Hey - I've got an idea. I'll promise to write more Snucius - say two Snuciuses every week, and you send me money? email to imnotcassieclaire@ripyouoff.co.uk
*removes tongue from cheek*
So I thought - well, why not? So I trot over to the UEA website and have a look, and it seems promising - it consists of one workshop a week, (do-able, possibly work would give me an day off) over two Semesters. And I think... Hmmmm. That sounds good.
As usual with most educatory brochures they are incomprehensible so I give the nice lady a ring at UEA and ask her to confirm the course. "Yes, one workshop on a Tuesday"
Me: Oh OK. Can't see the fee anywhere...
Her: Same fee as all courses at the UEA.
Me: (fainted) ...(weak voice) what.... £3,138?
Her: Yes. And it'll be going up next year, it'll probably be £4,000.
Me: ........ Oh.. Ok. Thanks....
Well, I'm sorry about that, but world famous and presitigious you might be, MA in Creative Writing, but who the FUCK can afford that? Unless you are a wealthy person who doesn't work, or a housewife with a nice husband.
Let's work that out shall we? *calculates*
That's approximately £25 an HOUR. You could probably get a private tutor for less. You can't tell me that 24 (number of students) times £4K = *£96,000* is the real cost of a yearly course.
*cries* I really wanted to do it, too.
Hey - I've got an idea. I'll promise to write more Snucius - say two Snuciuses every week, and you send me money? email to imnotcassieclaire@ripyouoff.co.uk
*removes tongue from cheek*
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no subject
Date: 2006-08-26 08:18 am (UTC)And someone still seething about what students here in Australia have to pay back once they're earning (which even now doesn't compare with costs in the USA, thoguh a lot more than community colleges and the like), since I'm paying such fees up-front for a relative now, because it's a lot cheaper than deferring the debt until he's earning above a certain income....
What students are charged tends to cover only a small proportion of the actual costs of presenting a course.
It's quite possible UEA have no real control over what they charge. That standard fee set-up reeks of goverment regulation to me. That's where most of the money for university courses comes from, not the students.
It's still irrational and exploitative (like would-be writers have that kind of money to spare, or even to sacrifice? Ha bloody ha). I'm also a little surprised (well, a lot) that they have been permitted to offer it with just one workshop a week (how long, though? if it's 3 hrs or more of class contact that would probably meet requirements, along with serious feedback on your work).
Luxury goods are not for most of us. You might do better to save up for Clarion. Even that sounds an appalling investment (with the airfares), but it has the track record.