Tuition Fee

Posted on Wed, 06/09/2010 - 15:29 | by The Insider

The decision is made and the tuition fee next year will be 3500 Euro. We asked Diana Pauna several questions regarding her personal opinion on the issue. Hope you will find here answers to your questions as well! Also, many thanks to Evita, Agnese, and Zanda.

A great amount of students have expressed their concern that the academic quality of the admitted students will be lower. How is it now?

Actually, even if the number of applicants decreases, quality of results does not decrease. Also, academic results of current year 1 are better compared to previous year. It shows that the motivation of students is higher, the university is not a random choice for them anymore. The faculty also confirms that the quality of results is improving.

What do alumni think about the increased tuition fee?

They support this idea. In their opinion, the tuition fee has several important meanings: first of all, it educates student by saying that the good education actually costs money! It is an experience in itself, which also teaches students to borrow responsibly for those who take up bank loans.

Current governmental policy in Estonia is that as many students as possible should stay in local universities. There are a lot of free studying place for them. Aren’t you afraid that those students will not come to SSE Riga because of tuition fee?

Currently we are working on new networks. Recently we had visitors from Estonian Ministry of Culture and from some Estonian universities. During our discussion we agreed that we need to identify our strengths together, not to fight for students with each other, but to collaborate. Similar meeting will be held with Lithuanian authorities in autumn. So I think there will not be such problems.

Of course, we have to continue building the reputation of SSE Riga. I think it will take approximately 5 years for people to understand that the quality of education here is high in spite of tuition fee. For example, from the next year we will have Junior Peak Time, which is a very good promotion of SSE Riga among the potential applicants.

Are there students from non-Baltic states who can study for free?

Yes, now we are collaborating with a Swedish Institute which provides support programmes for students from former USSR countries, including Moldova, Ukraine, Russia, etc. We believe that students from those countries will help us to diversify the alumni network and the student body itself.

From last year admission statistics: around 10-12 people from other countries than the Baltics were invited to the tests, however, only 3 came, and unfortunately they did not qualify.

Will there be more scholarships next year?

It depends on how much money alumni will gather. We will provide full and half scholarships for the first year, also there might be some scholarships for really difficult cases among year 2. This year we did not have any cases of resignation because of tuition fee, however, last year 2 students resigned after being admitted because of financial problem.

What is in your opinion the optimal tuition fee?

It depends on how we present it. Actually, the tuition fee is 6000 Euro, the school will cover 2500 of it next year, the rest is covered by students. But I think that it should stay at the level of 3500 Euro.

I remember how we introduced the payment for photocopy amounting to 5 lats ten years ago. It was a revolution! People were talking about destroying image of the school, that there will be problems with applicants, same questions which are raised today. Now people are paying 2200 Euro. Each change is difficult to introduce, people always want old things back.

People are usually afraid of taking loans, so are the students.

Yes, I noticed that students are very reluctant to take loans. They should be educated in this field. For example, why do you think we have a special agreement with SEB? Because they are sure that SSE graduates will be able to pay back. By studying here you want to ensure your future income, so why are you afraid of taking loans? This is a bit contradictory. So I encourage students to take more loans, as for me it is a sign of your responsibility and ability to make your own independent decisions.

Liene Grizāne

Jekaterina Kolbina