Higher Education Minister expands on recruitment limits on 'Mickey Mouse' degrees

17 July 2023, 13:22

Tom Swarbrick quizzes the Skills and Higher Education Minister

By Anna Fox

As the Prime Minister claims "too many young people are being sold a false dream" and are failing to secure a job at the end of a degree, the Higher Education Minister explains how the Tories will crack down on rip-off courses.

The Prime Minister has announced the Conservatives' plans to clamp down on degrees that fail to provide students with a job post-graduation.

In a statement last night, Rishi Sunak said: “Too many young people are being sold a false dream and end up doing a poor-quality course that doesn’t offer the prospect of a decent job at the end of it.

“That is why we are taking action to crack down on rip-off university courses while boosting skills training and apprenticeships provision.

"This will help more young people to choose the path that is right to help them reach their potential and grow our economy".

Tom Swarbrick quizzed the Skills and Higher Education Minister, on the government's decision to crack down on 'Mickey Mouse' degrees.

Tom began by saying: "Why would I be stopped from doing a creative writing degree at the University of Bolton, even if I meant it meant that I worked in the cafe afterwards?"

Lewis Goodall: What's the 'point' of a Labour government?

Robert Halfon replied saying: "First of all, you're choosing a particular course, and as I said, this could be any course at any university that has poor outcomes."

Continuing, the Minister for Skills and Higher Education said: "Of course, university is about education, about experience and intellectual development, and I'm proud that we have four of the best universities in the world.

"But if you are making that investment and taking out a huge loan, it's right that investment is reflected in your job earnings".

Noting that the so-called 'Mickey Mouse' will not be "scrapped", Mr Halfon confirmed there would be "recruitment limits" on those courses and it will be up to the "Office for Students to identify those courses that they feel are not".

Finishing his point, the Minister for Skills and Higher Education told Tom, the Tories' plan "isn't just about employment" adding: "These are courses that may have poor continuation, i.e. people drop out, they may have poor completion because people don't complete at the end".

The Government has also lowered the cap on tuition fees for classroom-based tuition fees to £5,760 from £9,250.

Rishi Sunak has also vowed to boost access to apprenticeships to lower the number of students going to university in order to compete.

More Tom Swarbrick

See more More Tom Swarbrick

Exclusive
Richard Tice thinks Reform "has the momentum" to challenge at the next election.

Reform deputy leader Richard Tice says 'hundreds of thousands' could lose jobs due to Labour's 'appalling' Budget

Exclusive
The terror watchdog was speaking to LBC's Tom Swarbrick

Terror watchdog warns hostile nations could use 'ordinary Brits' to 'carry out acts of sabotage'

Exclusive
Robert Jenrick Launches His Bid To Be The Next Conservative Party Leader

Social housing should be focused on ‘people who have been here for a long time’, Robert Jenrick tells LBC

Tom Swarbrick speak to Jonathan Dekel-Chen

Israeli hostage's father tells LBC Benjamin Netanyahu must 'negotiate with Satan' to bring hostages home

Exclusive
One child strip searched every 14 hours report reveals, as minister admits police searches 'taking place in chicken shops'

One child strip searched every 14 hours as commissioner says police searches 'taking place in chicken shops'

Nigel Farage waded into the row between Keir Starmer and Elon musk

'I pray he's wrong': Nigel Farage tells LBC following Elon Musk's claim 'civil war is inevitable' in Britain

Exclusive
Nigel Farage has refused to apologise after making the comments after the stabbing attack in Southport

Nigel Farage refuses to apologise over claims made about Southport attacker being known to police

Exclusive
Policing minister Dame Diana Johnson has told LBC that courts could sit through the night to bring “speedy justice” to those taking part in violent demonstration

Courts could sit through night to bring 'speedy justice' to violent protesters, policing minister tells LBC

Exclusive
A sister has described the moment she punched a crocodile to save her sister.

'I wasn't going to leave her behind': Twin recalls punching crocodile to save sister

Exclusive
Susan Hall has dismissed Ed Miliband's claim that she would be an 'embarrassment' to Britain as the next London mayor.

Susan Hall dismisses as 'nonsense’ after Ed Miliband said she would be an ‘embarrassment’ as London Mayor

Exclusive
UK should prepare for 'something close to war', Nato's deputy tells LBC, amid warning members have 'neglected defence'

UK should prepare for 'something close to war', Nato's Deputy General tells LBC, as he warns Russia 'cannot be trusted'

Emma Webber (left) speaking to LBC

Mother of Nottingham attack victim Barnaby Webber blasts police ‘mistruths’ after force is put in special measures

Lord Harrington said there should be a cap on the number of asylum seekers the UK takes.

Former refugees minister Lord Harrington calls for a cap on the number of asylum seekers the UK takes

Mel Stride has backed the PM

Rishi Sunak has 'absolutely not' betrayed nation over Rwanda plan, insists minister after Braverman's attack on PM

Tom and caller

'Our family is there': Mother shares heartbreaking experience of being a British Jew during Israel-Hamas conflict

The ban will be brought into effect in months

'Children should be in the classroom to learn': Gillian Keegan orders 'blanket ban' of mobile phones in schools