INTRODUCING a system which would weed out students who want to study for ‘Mickey Mouse’ degrees cannot be justified. The Education Department said it had no plans to change its grant application process.

The Professional Association of Teachers has called for universities and colleges to drop degree courses for things such surfing and beach management for which applicants needed just two D grade A-levels to get a place.

A department spokesman said that assessing whether funding should be granted in terms of the contents of the course would result in a more complicated applications process.

‘It would place an additional burden on sixth form students who are already coping with the demands of A-levels and applications to universities.

‘The department does not consider that this additional stress, as well as the inevitable administrative cost to the States, is justified at the present time.’

The spokesman said there was now a wide range of vocational courses on offer alongside traditional subjects.

‘Many vocational courses offer opportunities to develop specialist knowledge and high level skills which will be of permanent value to the graduate.

‘However, there is continuing debate about exactly which knowledge and skills merit the award of a degree and questions about the value of particular degree courses are to be expected.’

The spokesman said local students were advised to make informed choices when selecting their courses.

‘They are told, among other things, to consider carefully the long-term need for a fulfilling career.

‘The cost of a degree course and the need to leave the island for three years mean that the vast majority of students do consider carefully their choice of subject and institution and the department believes the majority of students make good choices.’

The department awards means-tested grants for all courses leading to nationally recognised higher education qualifications in the UK.

Grants are subject to an assessment of the students’ parental income.

Parents on low incomes are not expected to make a contribution towards course expenses but those on middle and high incomes contribute according to how much they earn.

The maximum amount they are asked to contribute is £4,030 per year.