University offers money back guarantee to unemployed graduates
Academia | The TelegraphThe University of Law has promised graduates of its legal practice course 50 per cent back on their tuition fees if they fail to get a position after graduatingAs more students consider employment prospects in their university application decision making, one institution has demonstrated its commitment to employability.The University of Law (ULaw) today announced that students who don’t secure a job after nine months following graduation will be given half of their tuition fees back.Aimed at students enrolling on the Legal Practice Course this September, the move could see students refunded up to £7,000 if they fail to secure a training contract or full time position following graduation.The offer comes as other institutions announce ‘sweeteners’ as they compete for students in an increasingly competitive market.In January this year, the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) announced plans to introduce refunds to students who failed to complete their degrees despite full participation throughout the course.Professor Craig Mahoney, UWS principal, said at the time that publicly-funded universities should become more “commercially sensitive” and should treat students as “customers” in order to remain competitive across the globe.While it’s unlikely that ULaw will be forced to refund many students, with a current employment rate that stands at 97 per cent, David Johnston, CEO of ULaw, said that “today’s students want a clear return on their investment”.
