Go Dutch - save a fortune in study fees

Universities in Holland offer first-class postgraduate degrees at a budget price, says Simon Northwood If markets have any place in higher education, and if British postgraduate students are half as bright as they're cracked up to be, there will soon be an exodus to the Continent. This is the logical consequence of the rapid growth in demand for postgraduate qualifications and of our exceptionally high fees compared with those elsewhere in Europe. This demand has grown because increased numbers of graduates and grade inflation have reduced the competitive value of a first degree. On average, today's graduates can expect to earn only £150,000 more in a working lifetime than non-graduates - 10 years ago, it was £400,000. To boost this earnings differential, the modern graduate needs to stand out by adding another degree - a masters or a PhD - to his CV. No wonder that almost four times as many postgraduate degrees were awarded to full-time students last year than 10 years earlier. Read more: Eurogates. Forum of education news