The Student 03/04/2012
April 13, 2012 Leave a comment
Online issue of The Student, published Tue Apr 4th 2012.
The Student 27/03/2012
April 13, 2012 Leave a comment
Online issue of The Student, published Tue Mar 27th 2012.
The Student 20/03/2012
April 13, 2012 Leave a comment
Online issue of The Student, published Tue Mar 20th 2012.
The Student 13/03/2012
March 13, 2012 Leave a comment
Online issue of The Student, published Tue Mar 13th 2012.
NUS to campaign for the introduction of postgraduate loans in Scotland
March 13, 2012 Leave a comment
Illustration credit: Holly Jameson
A motion passed at the NUS Scotland Conference held last week resolved to campaign for the introduction of postgraduate loans for students at Scottish universities.
This comes at a time when an increasing number of graduates are considering options for further study but are put off due to financial constraints.
With graduate unemployment at a 15 year high, many alumni are concerned they will be unable to stand out against the crowd with only an undergraduate degree.
The absence of a postgraduate loan system has meant many current students have had to rely on friends, family and career development loans from the bank to make their continued studying feasible.
It is predominately students from the poorest backgrounds who have been most affected by the complex financial system.
A key complaint of NUS Scotland was that a two-tier system within higher education has formed, comprised of those who can afford postgraduate study and those who cannot. They argued that the key reason behind those who wish to enter postgraduate study not doing so, has nothing to do with ability, but instead concerns a lack of finances.
Postgraduate students account for 26 per cent of the university student population in Scotland, yet 75 per cent of postgraduates questioned said they were not receiving enough financial support to study.
It was also claimed that 55 per cent of postgraduates are, “Unhappy with the current system of provision of financial support … compared to 26 per cent of students overall.” NUS Scotland have argued that access to education should be available to anyone who is academically able, not simply financially secure.
Taught and research masters fees at the University of Edinburgh for the 2012-13 academic year stand at £5,750 for home and EU students, whilst those from overseas can expect to pay between £13,050 and £30,850.
Fees for Masters of Philosophy and Doctorate Research programmes are between £11,450 and £27,000.
The Universities and Colleges Union (UCU) has highlighted the need for a greater number of postgraduates in Scotland to cater for its developing need for skills, a factor which would arguably be improved were a postgraduate loan system put in place.
The motion presented to the conference resolved to, “Campaign for a national postgraduate system in Scotland, which covers all up-front fees from institutions and which will provide at least the minimum income of £7,000 in living support for every postgraduate student.”
NUS Scotland added that the above loans system should be, “Open to all students from Scotland, and all students from the United Kingdom who have completed an undergraduate degree in Scotland.”
Taken from The Student, published Tue Mar 13th 2012.
The Student 06/03/2012
March 8, 2012 Leave a comment
Online issue of The Student, published Tue Mar 6th 2012.
The Student 28/02/2012
March 8, 2012 Leave a comment
Online issue of The Student, published Tue Feb 28th 2012.
The Student 21/02/2012
March 8, 2012 Leave a comment
Online issue of The Student, published Tue Feb 21st 2012.
Too much work makes Ali a dull boy
March 8, 2012 Leave a comment
Unfortunately, since taking over as editor-in-chief of The Student I have struggled to find the time alongside university work to do much writing. As a compromise I thought I would upload issues of the newspaper to prove to myself I have actually been doing something.
Here is my first edition which was published on Tue Feb 14th 2012:
Subdued Gervais leads monotonous Golden Globes
January 17, 2012 Leave a comment
Ricky Gervais led an evening of celebrations last night for the 69th Golden Globe Awards, held at the Beverley Hilton, Los Angeles.
The British comedian returned to host the show for his third time; something of a surprise given the numerous complaints he received from celebrities he targeted last year.
However, this year’s awards saw a considerably more subdued Gervais, leaving many feeling let down after his audacious performance 12 months ago.
His attacks seemed more focused on the awards themselves which he claimed lacked the esteem of the Oscars, instead being to them, “what Kim Kardashian is to Kate Middleton – a bit louder, a bit trashier, a bit drunker.”
The overall result was a ceremony that lacked the excitement and controversial appeal that made last year so enjoyable. Instead, generally lacklustre and humdrum speeches which listed countless people that needed to be thanked made for a somewhat monotonous affair.
The awards themselves provided few surprises, with The Artist picking up best motion picture – comedy or musical, best score and best actor – comedy or musical for Jean Dujardin.
The Descendants also received notable recognition, being named best motion picture – drama and George Clooney being awarded best actor – drama.
The other major acting awards went to Meryl Streep for her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher in Iron Lady and Michelle Williams for My Week with Marilyn.
Singer Madonna was awarded best song for ‘Masterpiece’ which features in her directorial debut W.E.
Christopher Plummer won the best supporting actor award for Beginner’s and Octavia Spencer won best supporting actress for The Help.
The best director gong went to Martin Scorsese for Hugo, his first venture into the world of 3D and children’s cinema.
Best screenplay was awarded to Woody Allen for Midnight in Paris whilst Steven Spielberg’s The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn won best animation.
Asghar Farhadi’s A Separation continued its winning streak picking up the award for best foreign film.
Morgan Freeman was awarded the Cecil B. De Mille award, given by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for outstanding contributions in the world of entertainment.
Presented by dame Helen Mirren and the iconic Sidney Poitier, Freeman announced in his speech, “it has been said that if you do what you love, you’ll never have to work a day in your life. So for the past 45 years or so, I’ve never had to work. My passion has always been acting.”
Evidently moved by being handed the accolade by Poitier, he referred to him as his “guiding beacon in life,” proclaiming that in his household, it will not just be known as the Cecille B. De Mille award, but the, “Sidney Poitier award” as well.
With the awards season now in full swing, everyone is looking towards the Oscars which will take place next month. Last night’s winners provide interesting possibilities for the upcoming awards as the Oscars do not have separate categories for drama and comedy or musical. It therefore stands that both The Artist and The Descendants have considerable potential in landing the top prizes.
Taken from The Student, published online Mon Jan 16th 2012.
