Fee Increase Analysis - 2-Year Master's Programme Correction

Generated: 2025-07-26 14:15 UTC
Status: Complete
Verified: Corrected for 2-year MArch programme

Overview

This document provides the corrected fee increase analysis for the LSA Part 2 MArch programme, which is a 2-year Master's degree, not the 4-year programme previously assumed.

Programme Duration Correction

Actual Programme Structure

Programme: Part 2 MArch (Master of Architecture)
Duration: 2 years
Level: Postgraduate professional qualification
Structure: Practice-integrated learning model

Previous Error

Documentation incorrectly assumed 4-year programme duration
Led to overstated fee increase projections
33.1% and 46.4% figures were based on 4-5 year calculations

Corrected Fee Increase Calculations

Contract Authority Confirmed

Source: Student Terms and Conditions, Section 12.17

"a Tuition Fee increase for a current student shall not exceed a 10% (ten percent) increase"

2-Year Programme Calculations

Conservative Scenario (5% Annual Increases)

Year 1: £[Base Fee]
Year 2: £[Base Fee × 1.05] = 5% increase

Total Programme Impact: 5% increase over 2-year programme

Moderate Scenario (7.5% Annual Increases)

Year 1: £[Base Fee]
Year 2: £[Base Fee × 1.075] = 7.5% increase

Total Programme Impact: 7.5% increase over 2-year programme

Maximum Permitted Scenario (10% Annual Increases)

Year 1: £[Base Fee]
Year 2: £[Base Fee × 1.10] = 10% increase

Total Programme Impact: 10% increase over 2-year programme

Financial Impact Assessment

Realistic Financial Exposure

For a 2-year Master's programme, the fee increase exposure is significantly lower than previously calculated:

Example: £20,000 Annual Base Fee

Conservative (5% Year 2):
Year 1: £20,000
Year 2: £21,000
Total cost: £41,000
Additional cost: £1,000 (2.4% of total programme)

Maximum Risk (10% Year 2):
Year 1: £20,000  
Year 2: £22,000
Total cost: £42,000
Additional cost: £2,000 (4.8% of total programme)

Comparison to Previous Calculations

Scenario	2-Year Programme	Previous 4-Year Assumption	Correction
Maximum Annual Increase	10%	10%	Same
Total Programme Impact	10% increase	33.1% cumulative	Overstated
Real Financial Risk	£2,000 additional	£6,620 additional*	70% overestimate

*Based on £20,000 annual fees

Corrected Risk Assessment

Actual Student Financial Risk

Low Risk Scenario (5% increase in Year 2)

Additional Cost: 2.4% of total programme fees
Planning Impact: Minimal budgeting adjustment required
Financial Stress: Low

Moderate Risk Scenario (7.5% increase in Year 2)

Additional Cost: 3.6% of total programme fees
Planning Impact: Moderate budgeting adjustment
Financial Stress: Manageable

Maximum Risk Scenario (10% increase in Year 2)

Additional Cost: 4.8% of total programme fees
Planning Impact: Requires contingency planning
Financial Stress: Notable but manageable

Student Planning Recommendations

Budget Planning

Contingency Fund: Set aside 5-10% of annual fee for Year 2 increase
Financial Monitoring: Track university announcements for fee changes
Payment Timing: Consider payment plans to manage cash flow

Risk Mitigation

Early Decision: Use 14-day cancellation if concerned about fees
Contract Termination: Can terminate if unhappy with Year 2 increase (with notice)
Financial Planning: Much more manageable than previously calculated

Documentation Corrections Required

Immediate Updates Needed

All Fee Calculations: Update from 4-year to 2-year programme
Risk Assessments: Significantly reduce risk ratings
Financial Planning: Adjust budgeting recommendations
Student Guidance: Update all advisory materials

Specific Documents to Correct

Fee Calendar: Recalculate all projections for 2-year programme
Risk Analysis: Downgrade fee increase risk severity
Final Review Report: Correct executive summary findings
README.md: Update all fee increase references
Verification Document: Complete recalculation

Key Corrections Summary

What Changed

Programme Duration: 4 years → 2 years
Maximum Fee Impact: 33.1% → 10%
Risk Level: High → Moderate
Planning Complexity: Complex → Straightforward

What Stays the Same

10% Annual Maximum: Contract authority unchanged
Notice Requirements: 3 months advance notice
Termination Rights: Student can end contract if unhappy
Payment Terms: Same refund and payment structure

Conclusion

The correction to a 2-year programme duration dramatically reduces the fee increase risk for LSA students:

Previous Assessment

Up to 46.4% cumulative increase over 5 years
33.1% cumulative increase over 4 years
High financial risk requiring complex planning

Corrected Assessment

Maximum 10% increase in Year 2 only
Low to moderate financial risk
Simple contingency planning sufficient
Much more manageable financial exposure

This correction significantly improves the risk profile for prospective and current LSA students, making the programme much more financially predictable and manageable than previously documented.

This correction is based on the LSA Part 2 MArch being a 2-year postgraduate Master's programme, not the 4-year undergraduate programme previously assumed in calculations.