Sir, The issue of top-up fees is not the only ramification of increased student numbers (report, February 17). Due to the sheer size of some departments and teaching modules, the university experience is becoming increasingly less personal. University feels less like an academic journey and bears closer resemblance to an industrial production line.

One-to-one contact with lecturers is often via e-mail and, with the availability of journals on the internet, apart from the occasional trip to the library, one doesn’t even have to leave the comfort of the computer room to carry out the bulk of one’s studies.

This is the world undergraduates live in, which makes a mockery of the goal of expanding student numbers. The university experience should be made worthwhile again, allowing graduates to be proud of their achievements.

Yours faithfully,
LEE GARVEY,
(Third-year International Politics student, University of Wales, Aberystwyth),
Fairlea, Loveden Road, Aberystwyth SY23 2ED.
February 21.

From Mr Trevor Dingle

Sir, Thirty-six years ago, as a son of a poor working-class family, I managed financially to secure a university education. During term time I enjoyed a normal student’s social life and was able to live acceptably on my grant, a routine “County Major Award”. During vacations I worked full time to pay for my living and to provide a small back-up for term times. I left university with a degree, happy memories of a normal student life, and no debt.

As a consequence of my education, my eldest son is now at university as the child of a well off, upper-middle-class family. He receives major financial support from my wife and me, even though he works part time during term and plans to work full time during vacations. He will graduate in two and a half years with at least £10,000 of debt.

Were his origins, and level of family support, as mine were 36 years ago, it would be extremely difficult for him to complete a degree without serious hardship and future debt.

How have 36 years of investment in education managed to worsen the situation so much for the poorer student, and simultaneously increase the burden on the middle-class student’s family?

Yours sincerely,
TREVOR DINGLE,
(Director), FEI UK Ltd,
Philips House,
Cowley Park, Cambridge CB4 0HF.
February 21.

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