Student takes Oxford college to court in row over funding

Saturday 16 February 2013

A post-graduate student took an Oxford college to court claiming he was turned down for a place because he did not have enough money.

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Pat Hurst and Andrew Woodcock

Damien Shannon, from Salford, Greater Manchester, claims St Hugh's College is discriminating against poorer students by requiring them to prove they can afford the £12,900 living expenses while studying.

Mr Shannon, 26, originally from Mansfield, Notts, claims this figure is disproportionate, and students can study at less expense.

He has brought a claim of discrimination against the college on the grounds his right to education under the Human Rights Act has been breached. He appeared at Manchester County Court to oppose an application by St Hugh's to have the claim thrown out.Mr Shannon, who has a degree with the Open University and works at the Treasury on the Government's fast-track graduate civil service programme, is representing himself.He says his offer of a place on a one-year economic and social history masters course was withdrawn by St Hugh's because he could not provide evidence that he had access to £21,000 for tuition and college fees – more especially the £12,900 living expenses.But Peter Oldham, QC, representing St Hugh's, told Judge Armitage, QC, the college was asking to have the case dismissed before it proceeded to trial on the grounds it is unreasonable.Mr Oldham said when Mr Shannon first applied to go on the course last January he made no mention of being unable to meet the living costs until just days before the course started on October 1 last year.And he said it was not a "point of principle" that Mr Shannon made the claim but because funds he had set aside had been used up.Mr Shannon has yet to give his side of the case to the court but will argue the living expenses figure is excessive and makes access to the course "illusory", effectively breaching his human rights to education.

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Education

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Student takes Oxford college to court in row over funding

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